The Long Haul

📘 About This Book

This book is a collection of conversations with important contemporary Southern novelists and with Lewis P. Simpson, longtime co-editor of The Southern Review and an established authority on Southern literature. The two long conversations with Professor Simpson place the post World War II Southern novel in the context of modern literature and of the classical Southern novel. Professor Simpson, who knew many of the giants of Southern literature, assesses the writers of the past and the possibilities of the future. The volume includes conversations with Ernest Gaines, Madison Jones, Shirley Ann Grau, David Madden, the late John William Corrington, James Wilcox, and Vance Bourjaily. A chapter by the editor about his relationship with the late Walker Percy concludes the volume. Co-published with Southeastern Louisiana State University.

📖 Summary

William Parrill's 1994 work, The Long Haul, offers readers a deeply engaging collection of conversations and interviews with some of the most important contemporary Southern novelists, alongside a prominent authority on Southern letters. Spanning 208 pages within the realm of language arts and literary criticism, the book serves as both a historical archive and a critical examination of regional storytelling. At the heart of the volume are two extended conversations with Lewis P. Simpson, the longtime co-editor of The Southern Review and a renowned scholar. Through these discussions, Simpson places the post-World War II Southern novel into a broader literary framework, contrasting modern literature with the classical Southern novel. Having known many of the historical giants of Southern literature, Simpson provides valuable assessments of past writers while contemplating the future possibilities of the genre. Beyond the foundational discussions with Simpson, Parrill presents dialogue with a remarkable roster of literary figures. The volume includes insightful conversations with acclaimed authors such as Ernest Gaines, Madison Jones, Shirley Ann Grau, David Madden, the late John William Corrington, James Wilcox, and Vance Bourjaily. Each conversation sheds light on the creative processes, thematic preoccupations, and cultural contexts that defined the works of these significant contemporary voices. The authors discuss their craft, the unique pressures and inspirations of writing from a Southern perspective, and their relationships to the rich and complex literary tradition that preceded them. The book culminates in a deeply personal concluding chapter written by the editor himself. In this final section, Parrill reflects upon his own relationship with the late Walker Percy, one of the towering figures of twentieth-century American literature. This personal memoir adds an intimate layer to the collection, bridging the gap between critical academic discourse and lived literary history. Co-published to preserve the voices and insights of a vital literary era, The Long Haul provides scholars, students, and enthusiasts of regional literature with an invaluable resource for understanding how the Southern novel evolved during a period of immense modern transformation.

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