John Updike at BookExpo America in Washington, May 20, 2006.(AP)
John Updike, giant of American literature, died yesterday at the age of 76.
He was the author of more than 60 books — novels, poems, essays and reviews. A book a year or thereabouts. He was a poet of suburbia, a lifelong Christian, a writer whose sex scenes could make almost anyone blush. Above all, he was a grand chronicler of the American century.
Writing of baseball great Ted Williams, Updike wrote, “Gods do not answer letters.” Updike, like Williams, was a prodigy. And America has lost its great man of letters.
This hour, On Point: Remembering John Updike.
You can join the conversation. What’s your favorite Updike novel, story, poem? What will you remember most about this American man of letters?
-Jane Clayson, guest host
Guests:
From Amherst, Mass., we’re joined by William Pritchard, a distinguished literary critic and professor of English at Amherst College. He’s one of the great Updike scholars, and had a long-running correspondence with him. He’s the author of “Updike: America’s Man of Letters.”
And with us in our studio is Sue Miller, author of “The Senator’s Wife,” “The Good Mother,” and other novels.
More links:
On Point host Tom Ashbrook interviewed Updike twice in recent years: about his acclaimed art criticism in Sept. 2005, and about his novel “Terrorist” in June 2006.
The Boston Globe’s Mark Feeney writes the stand-out obit on Updike. Michiko Kakutani of The New York Times has a warm appreciation. An A-list cast of New Yorker contributors remembers him.
The Globe also posts Updike’s famous sendoff for Ted Williams, “Hub Fans Bid Kid Adieu.”
Tags: books
What a loss!
Posted by Simon, on January 27th, 2009 at 11:19 PMFor those interested I posted the most recent video of Updike on my blog.
Another victim of cigarettes!
Posted by Bill, on January 28th, 2009 at 7:58 AM@Bill, Must we all be victims Bill? Reminds me of that Onion article: World Death Rate Holds Steady At 100%. He was 76.
Posted by Bildad, on January 28th, 2009 at 10:33 AMThanks for doing this tribute, On Point… another huge loss, thought not unexpected, given his age, but still shocking news… last month Studs, this month Updike…
Posted by James M. Surprenant, on January 28th, 2009 at 11:09 AMRest in Peace and thank you for enriching my life.
One lovely habit of Updike’s involved the bookstore in his town: purchasers of an Updike book could leave it at the counter with a text which he would (if not too personal) kindly inscribe over the next day or so. He may himself have kept that bookstore in business.
Posted by Mark, on January 28th, 2009 at 11:51 AMPlease direct me to the wonderful Updike poem with which Mr.Pritchard closed the show today. I cannot find it on your web page. Thank you, Delinda
Posted by Delinda, on January 28th, 2009 at 9:53 PM[...] Here’s Pritchard talking about Updike with Sue Miller (whom Pritchard had brought to Amherst that same semester to teach fiction writing, which I also took). Perhaps you’ll get a taste for why I insisted on taking as many classes with this man as possible. [...]
Posted by Pritchard on Updike. « In Stitches, on January 28th, 2009 at 11:39 PMI just loved Mr. Updike, his work, his crinkly eyes, his wonderful manners. I got three postcards from him over the years and the first one changed everything for me. Wrote MY tribute here at my blog Exit Only
Posted by Terry Marotta, on January 29th, 2009 at 9:36 AMJohn Updike possessed a truly beautiful mind; he didn’t just write well, he wrote wisely
Posted by coffee, on January 30th, 2009 at 3:18 AM[...] Earlier this week On Point remember the man, his piercing wit and effervescent, glittering prose. Listen here. [...]
Posted by A Consumate Gentleman « The ConverStation, on January 30th, 2009 at 4:22 PMThank you “On Point” With her charm and grace Jane Clayson has made for a deeply moving memoriam of a true “American Idol.” My life has been enriched once again by the collected talent of all involved with your show.
Bob Young
Oh! I missed seeing the face of Jane pictured on your internet site, along with Tom and Jack. She is another example of the high bar of your broadcast production.
Posted by Robert Young, on January 31st, 2009 at 2:50 AMhi. I love on point but lately can’t listen to it on realplayer. It keeps wanting to come on via some other player and when it does it doesnt have the forward and back buttons so i can go back and hear what I missed. How can I get it to play on realplayer????help please.
Posted by t tutu, on January 31st, 2009 at 6:39 PM