Percy-L: Literary, Religious, Scientific, and Philosophical Discussion of Walker Percy

[RHONDA MCDONNELL <rhonda_mcdonnell AT msn.com>]

You're right, Karey. Foote didn't get the language business that was so central to Percy. But what I found was revealing in their correspondence was the insight into Percy's process and his priorities. 

--Rhonda

"You live in a deranged age, more deranged than usual, because in spite of great scientific and technological advances, man has not the faintest idea of who he is or what he is doing."
  
                                    Walker Percy

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From: karey1 AT charter.net
To: percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:36:42 -0500
Subject: Re: [percy-l] Lit Crit on Percy - Where to Start?

I agree, Rhonda – “A Thief of Peirce” was simply a fascinating and great read – though not sure it was officially “criticism.”  Secondly, I loved Tolson’s biography, which won numerous awards, even outside the Percy crowd – definitely worth reading.  Didn’t find that his Foote letters helped me much.  Shelby Foote didn’t understand (or was interested in) much of what Percy did/was, though they were great friends.

 

Glad to see the list has raised it’s sleeping head!

 

Karey

 

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From: percy-l-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:percy-l-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Ballow
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 9:17 PM
To: Percy-L: Literary and Philosophical Discussion
Subject: Re: [percy-l] Lit Crit on Percy - Where to Start?

 

Thanks everyone for the feedback - much appreciated.  Everyone seems to be hibernating -- at least here in the Northeast.  So I figure what better way to shake off the mid-winter blues and celebrate Fat Tuesday than by re-reading The Moviegoer....

----- Original Message -----
From: "RHONDA MCDONNELL"
To: "Percy-L: Literary and Philosophical Discussion"
Subject: Re: [percy-l] Lit Crit on Percy - Where to Start?
Date: Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:22:02 -0700

I thought you all died! Glad to know you were merely sleeping (as was I).
 
Both Lawson books are tops, and most of what's out there adds to the critical conversation on Percy (I'd steer clear of the Poteat book, though. It's pretty far off course). The collections of letters--A Thief of Peirce--and the Walker Percy Shelby Foote letters are interesting for the insight they offer. And, give Lost in the Cosmos, by Percy, a read. It's the closest he came to setting down his philosophy in one place.

 

--Rhonda

"You live in a deranged age, more deranged than usual, because in spite of great scientific and technological advances, man has not the faintest idea of who he is or what he is doing."
  
                                    Walker Percy

 

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> From: mitchdl AT email.unc.edu
> To: percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 23:27:26 -0600
> Subject: Re: [percy-l] Lit Crit on Percy - Where to Start?
>
> Ah, springtime! All the slumbering Percians emerging from their long dyadic
> dreams and reemerging into the bright triadic world, blinking
> bemusedly...Well timed, Jeff.
>
> Karey's list is a great help (thanks for sending that around, Karey). If
> you're wondering where to start, I would say Jay Tolson's biography (a
> well-written intellectual bio) and two relatively recent books: John
> Desmond's Walker Percy's Search for Community (great readings of all the
> novels and a sound intro to Percy's semiotics) and Farrell O'Gorman's
> Peculiar Crossroads (for Percy and O'Connor in relation to mid-century
> Catholic thought and southern letters generally).
>
> Best,
> Doug
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeff Ballow" <jeffballow AT nycmail.com>
> To: <percy-l AT lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 2:35 PM
> Subject: [percy-l] Lit Crit on Percy - Where to Start?
>
>
> > Hi All - New to this list but a long-time fan of Percy. While I have read
> > his novels and essays, I haven't really read any literary criticism on his
> > work. Which books (or articles/essays even) should I start with? Many
> > thanks....
> >
> > --
> > Want an e-mail address like mine?
> > Get a free e-mail account today at www.mail.com!
> >
> > --
> > An archive of all list discussion is available at
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/percy-l/
> >
> > Visit the Walker Percy Project at http://www.ibiblio.org/wpercy
>
> --
> An archive of all list discussion is available at http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/percy-l/
>
> Visit the Walker Percy Project at http://www.ibiblio.org/wpercy

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