David Foster Wallace: In His Own Words

by David Foster Wallace Narrated by David Foster Wallace

Overview

"[DFW's] delivery is dead-on and fresh, the words often springing from his mouth as if conceived on the spot . . . . an audible confirmation that modern American writing continues to gain strength." -- Publishers Weekly on Consider the Lobster

Collected here for the first time are the stories and speeches of David Foster Wallace as read by the author himself. Over the course of his career, David Foster Wallace recorded a variety of his work in diverse circumstances -- from studio recordings to live performances -- that are finally compiled in this unique collection. Some of the pieces collected here are: "Another Pioneer," recorded at The University of Arizona Poetry Center; stories from Breif Interviews with Hiddeous Men and Consider the Lobster recorded in the studio; and the unforgettable "This Is Water," his 2005 commencement address given at Kenyon College. Also included are two interviews and a 2005 conversation with Rick Moody at Herbst Theater in San Francisco.

This collection has a special introduction written and read by acclaimed writer and editor John Jeremiah Sullivan. For fans of David Foster Wallace who have read everything he ever wrote as well as those looking to familiarize themselves with his work, David Foster Wallace: In His Own Words is a special, unique collection unavailable anywhere else.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Audio

09/01/2014
This collection of essays, speeches, and interviews is a colorful reflection of the late author’s work in the last 15 years of his life. It includes some of his most famous later essays, such as “Consider the Lobster” and “This Is the Water,” and the interviews often provide some nuggets of insight about Wallace, despite the fact that they sometimes are of a promotional nature. The entire collection, except for the introduction, is as the title suggests, spoken by Wallace himself. Some pieces were captured in a studio and provide crisp and clear sound that makes for an intimate experience compared to the pieces that were recorded in front of an audience or with an interviewing reporter. The studio recordings are enjoyable because the focus is often the written work of Foster, but the interviews are equally compelling since they flesh out the author in ways that the writing cannot. Taken together, they provide the listener with a unique and endearing understanding of Wallace. A Hachette Audio original. (May)

Library Journal - Audio

07/01/2014
Since 2011's posthumously published The Pale King, new Wallace titles have been repackagings of previously available essays and other items such as book reviews and print interviews. While this work is in the same vein, it's a treat for fans, who will relish hearing Wallace reading selections of his fiction and nonfiction (in studio and onstage) as well as listening to interviews he conducted for radio shows and other venues and even a commencement address he gave. It's sad but also fascinating to hear his gentle, thoughtful voice explaining the ins and outs of his books and his writing process and his occasional gripes with his editors and publishers. His thoughts on turning his material into audiobook form will interest fans, too, who will be familiar with his extensive use, even in fiction, of footnotes. His nonfiction and interviews are the most enjoyable material here; while it's instructive to experience Wallace's interpretation of his fiction, his voice is not ideally suited to acting and becomes a distraction. VERDICT Best for die-hard Wallace fans, this audiobook is perfect for larger public libraries and for academic literature collections.—Henrietta Verma, Library Journal

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173744760
Publisher:	Hachette Audio
Publication date:	05/20/2014
Edition description:	Unabridged

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