Letters to the Editor
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‘John Gardner Was Tireless Self-Promoter’
Talk about an axe to grind. I remember “Grendel” vividly as a wonderful rethinking of “Beowulf,” and “October Light,” “The Wreckage of Agathon,” “The Sunlight Dialogues” and “Nickel Mountain” as well [“Disorder & Early Sorrow: John Gardner Was a Tireless Self-Promoter and Prolific Author Whose Works Should Be Remembered – But Not Republished,” Alec Solomita, Arts & Letters, January 25, 2006].
Never read Mr. Gardner’s criticism, which strangely seems to be the focus here. But funny, I don’t remember a single thing by Mr. Solomita. Why is that? Maybe that’s because a good novel’s remembered. Critical spleen generally isn’t.
DALLAS MAYR
Manhattan
