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The Art of Living and Other Stories
"The first collection in seven years from one of America's most celebrated and admired writers--ten wonderful short (and long) stories that allow us to explore and enjoy once again the many facets of John Gardner's unique fictional world. Here are enchanting tales about queens and kings and princesses in magical, timeless lands; marvelously warm and funny stories that move, amuse, and enlighten us as they probe the mysterious and profound relation between art and life." This is a hardcover edition of The Art of Living and Other Stories, written by John Gardner and published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1981. It is a self-stated First Printing, with stunning woodcuts by Mary Azarian.
309 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
27 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
About the author
John Gardner
408 books463 followersJohn Champlin Gardner was a well-known and controversial American novelist and university professor, best known for his novel Grendel, a retelling of the Beowulf myth.
Gardner was born in Batavia, New York. His father was a lay preacher and dairy farmer, and his mother taught English at a local school. Both parents were fond of Shakespeare and often recited literature together. As a child, Gardner attended public school and worked on his father's farm, where, in April of 1945, his younger brother Gilbert was killed in an accident with a cultipacker. Gardner, who was driving the tractor during the fatal accident, carried guilt for his brother's death throughout his life, suffering nightmares and flashbacks. The incident informed much of Gardner's fiction and criticism — most directly in the 1977 short story "Redemption," which included a fictionalized recounting of the accident.
From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gar...
Gardner was born in Batavia, New York. His father was a lay preacher and dairy farmer, and his mother taught English at a local school. Both parents were fond of Shakespeare and often recited literature together. As a child, Gardner attended public school and worked on his father's farm, where, in April of 1945, his younger brother Gilbert was killed in an accident with a cultipacker. Gardner, who was driving the tractor during the fatal accident, carried guilt for his brother's death throughout his life, suffering nightmares and flashbacks. The incident informed much of Gardner's fiction and criticism — most directly in the 1977 short story "Redemption," which included a fictionalized recounting of the accident.
From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gar...
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 10, 2016
This short story collection explores the meaning of “Life” and the meaning of “Art” and how they intertwine. The tales show how difficult reality can be for the artist to balance the two. Writers write because they have to, and the beauty and terror of that concept winds its way throughout this book. Gardner’s prose style is rich and dense and mostly accessible, but he does have a tendency towards long sentences, not always to the benefit of the narrative. This is a marvelously collection curated wisely.
August 1, 2021
First I must comment on this hardcover first edition from which I've been reading: It's a pristine volume with mylar dust jacket protector, deckle-edged, and each story enriched by beautiful woodcuts from the artist Mary Azarian. It's a much prized volume in my collection, and I was fortunate to find it very reasonably priced on the used marketplace.
Equally wonderful are the ten stories contained within. I've made it no secret that I'm an admirer of Gardner and his work, going back to my first readings of 'October Light' and 'Mickelsson's Ghosts' when they were released in the late '70s and early '80s. I connect with his novels, filled as they are with deep psychological insights, human fallibility, and always philosophical. I think if Gardner hadn't been a writer he'd have been a philosopher. In reading 'The Art of Living' I've filled a glaring, inexcusable gap in Gardner's body of work.
Equally wonderful are the ten stories contained within. I've made it no secret that I'm an admirer of Gardner and his work, going back to my first readings of 'October Light' and 'Mickelsson's Ghosts' when they were released in the late '70s and early '80s. I connect with his novels, filled as they are with deep psychological insights, human fallibility, and always philosophical. I think if Gardner hadn't been a writer he'd have been a philosopher. In reading 'The Art of Living' I've filled a glaring, inexcusable gap in Gardner's body of work.
November 17, 2025
Gardner comes from a time when stories could be incredibly overwritten (case in point: Vlemk the Box-Painter). On the other hand he has no inhibitions about going where writers don't usually go (the title story for example). He was so influential and disturbed by childhood trauma and his sentences are inherently interesting. Loved the woodcut illustrations in this.
Want to read
September 14, 2019#5
A queer expression stretched Queen Louisa’s face. “Do we really need the royal treasury?” she said.
#7
The drunkards were all sweating like they hadn’t sweated in three, four years, walking around bumping into each other, slipping into the shade of the burdocks sometimes for a pull at the bottles they’d brought, getting more cheerful and more dignified as the day wore on, sometimes missing the grapes completely and snipping off the vine instead, sometimes tipping their wheelbarrows over or falling off the plank coming into the barn.
#9
Though I was astonished by my powers, I know, thinking back, that it was not as miraculous as I imagined. Borne along by those powerful voices, the music’s ancient structure, only a very good musician could have sung off key. And yet it did seem miraculous. It seemed our bones and blood that sang, all heaven and earth singing harmony lines, and when the music broke off on the final chord, the echo that rang on the walls around us was like a roaring Amen.
A queer expression stretched Queen Louisa’s face. “Do we really need the royal treasury?” she said.
#7
The drunkards were all sweating like they hadn’t sweated in three, four years, walking around bumping into each other, slipping into the shade of the burdocks sometimes for a pull at the bottles they’d brought, getting more cheerful and more dignified as the day wore on, sometimes missing the grapes completely and snipping off the vine instead, sometimes tipping their wheelbarrows over or falling off the plank coming into the barn.
#9
Though I was astonished by my powers, I know, thinking back, that it was not as miraculous as I imagined. Borne along by those powerful voices, the music’s ancient structure, only a very good musician could have sung off key. And yet it did seem miraculous. It seemed our bones and blood that sang, all heaven and earth singing harmony lines, and when the music broke off on the final chord, the echo that rang on the walls around us was like a roaring Amen.
December 29, 2020
This book is my introduction to John Gardner, drawn by the wonderful illustrations of Mary Azarian, encouraged by a friend. I am overwhelmed: I finished the title tale, saved, like a child leaving the icing to the last on a cake whose delicious layers build to the perfect topping. That was almost a week ago, and I am still tasting the flavor of the stories Gardner has to tell, from startlingly realistic to ones that seem to be fairy tales. In one contemporary short tale, the reader follows the thoughts of a woman, whose mind seems like your own, as you recognize through her world, your world, your thoughts within, touching the sober heart of being. The story that could have come from the Brothers Grimm uses characters that may seem to have desperate, wasted lives, to bring, through enchantment, a message somber, and possibly enlightening.
April 15, 2023
The last story, The Art of Living, resonated deeply with me when I read it decades ago. On re-reading it moves me still. No animals were hurt in my re-reading, but I imagine John Gardner would still have approved.
March 23, 2023
Dense stories that felt a little too university workshopped for me, but the artistry is undeniable.
February 12, 2017
A marvellous mix of tales, comic, shocking, neatly observant.
April 24, 2018
I loved Grendel, and I'm glad I read it before I read this. It would have been hard to take Grendel seriously if I knew how seriously the author takes himself and his work. Vlemk the Box-Painter was one of the most tedious, overwrought stories I've ever read. I'm probably done with John Gardner.
January 19, 2010
This is a re-read for me. Haven't read Gardner for a few decades and I'm looking forward to it.
And it was everything and more than I remembered. My favorites were "The Joy of the Just," "Vlemk the Box-Painter" (what a fabulous fairy tale), and "The Art of Living."
Gardner's characters come alive for the reader and you can almost "feel" what they feel.
And it was everything and more than I remembered. My favorites were "The Joy of the Just," "Vlemk the Box-Painter" (what a fabulous fairy tale), and "The Art of Living."
Gardner's characters come alive for the reader and you can almost "feel" what they feel.
November 23, 2012
Some of my favs are in this collection. "Redemption" is a great story, and "Vlemk the Box Painter" is another awesome fairy-tale-but-serious novella. I also remember "The Joy of the Just" reading very much like Flannery O'Connor.
August 1, 2007
march 2002 (amy's pick) - redemption
June 20, 2009
My favorite short story collection. Each one offers a different insight into the nature of life and art. Reading it dramatically altered my view on both.
August 7, 2010
Imperial Dog... yikes!
October 12, 2014
Why have I never heard of John Gardner before this book? Must find more by him.
April 13, 2013
my favorite story in this collection is Vlemk the Box Painter.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews