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Writers & Company

Robert Stone Interview

Eleanor Wachtel spoke with American novelist Robert Stone in October of 1997 when he was here for the International Festival of Authors. Robert Stone died last month at the age of 77.
CBC Radio ·
(Phyllis Rose)
Writers and Company52:59Robert Stone Interview

In their obituary for Robert Stone The Guardian said of him that he "...understood [his] subject to its core. His books were populated by [America's] disillusioned, idealistic, cynical, stoned and wasted products, people chasing an American dream and inevitably doomed to failure."

"I don't think happy endings are available for us. [But] we can bring to bear courage, and love, and sacrifice, and even wit, humour, eloquence  - all these things that get us through the worst of times.  And to render those things is to help people to stand up.  To help them face the next day." - Robert Stone

The music to close the Robert Stone Interview:

CD:  JOHN HARLE'S SAXAPHONE
Cut # 2 : "Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano: 2nd Movement, Slowly "
Composer:  Phil Woods
Performers: John Harle (saxophone), John Leneham (piano)
Label:  HYPERION CDA66246

Bear and His Daughter and  Damascus Gate are published in paperback by Houghton Mifflin.  Robert Stone’s last novel  Death of the Black Haired Girl was published just two years ago.
  Robert Stone read from two stories from  Bear and His Daughter during our interview with him;  Absence of Mercy and  Helping.

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