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Fare Forward: Letters from David Markson
In this first-ever book of letters by novelist David Markson—a quintessential “writer’s writer” whose work David Foster Wallace once lauded as “pretty much the high point of experimental fiction in this country”—readers will experience Markson at his wittiest and warmest. Laura Sims shares her correspondence with him, which began with an impassioned fan letter in 2003 and ended with his death in 2010, finally allowing a glimpse into the personal world of this solitary man who found his life's solace in literature.
The letters trace the growth of a genuine and moving friendship between two writers at very different stages; in them we see Markson grapple, humorously, with the indignities of old age and poor health, and reminiscence about his early days as a key literary figure in the Greenwich Village scene of the 1950s and 60s. At the same time, he sincerely celebrates Sims’s marriage and the first milestones of her career as a poet. The book is full of engaging commentary on life, love, and the writing life:
On old age: “Did I say I was 117? Now that the humidity has finally lifted, I sometimes don’t feel a day over 109.”
On critics: “If I’d run into the guy…I would have punched him in the mouth.”
On blogs: “I would rather spend an hour and a half trying to solve the roughest first draft of a note for the new book…than ever ever ever read another word of the Internet.”
On politics: “I hope neither of you slashed your wrists after the election. I was gonna jump off the roof here, but my sciatica hurt too much for me to get over the railing.”
Markson reveals himself to be casually erudite, caustically funny, lovably cantankerous, and always entertaining. This volume marks a significant contribution to our understanding and appreciation of Markson’s indubitably important and affecting body of work and will be a delight for his long-time fans as well as those just now discovering him.
The letters trace the growth of a genuine and moving friendship between two writers at very different stages; in them we see Markson grapple, humorously, with the indignities of old age and poor health, and reminiscence about his early days as a key literary figure in the Greenwich Village scene of the 1950s and 60s. At the same time, he sincerely celebrates Sims’s marriage and the first milestones of her career as a poet. The book is full of engaging commentary on life, love, and the writing life:
On old age: “Did I say I was 117? Now that the humidity has finally lifted, I sometimes don’t feel a day over 109.”
On critics: “If I’d run into the guy…I would have punched him in the mouth.”
On blogs: “I would rather spend an hour and a half trying to solve the roughest first draft of a note for the new book…than ever ever ever read another word of the Internet.”
On politics: “I hope neither of you slashed your wrists after the election. I was gonna jump off the roof here, but my sciatica hurt too much for me to get over the railing.”
Markson reveals himself to be casually erudite, caustically funny, lovably cantankerous, and always entertaining. This volume marks a significant contribution to our understanding and appreciation of Markson’s indubitably important and affecting body of work and will be a delight for his long-time fans as well as those just now discovering him.
- GenresNonfiction
156 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
3 people are currently reading
284 people want to read
About the author
David Markson
24 books358 followersDavid Markson was an American novelist, born David Merrill Markson in Albany, New York. He is the author of several postmodern novels, including This is Not a Novel, Springer's Progress, and Wittgenstein's Mistress. His most recent work, The Last Novel, was published in 2007 and received a positive review in the New York Times, which called it "a real tour de force."
Markson's work is characterized by an unconventional approach to narration and plot. While his early works may draw on the modernist tradition of William Faulkner and Malcolm Lowry, Markson says his later novels are "literally crammed with literary and artistic anecdotes" and "nonlinear, discontinuous, collage-like, an assemblage."
Dalkey Archive Press has published several of his novels. In December 2006, publishers Shoemaker & Hoard republished two of Markson's early crime novels Epitaph for a Tramp and Epitaph for a Dead Beat in one volume.
In addition to his novels, he has published a book of poetry and a critical study of Malcolm Lowry.
The movie Dirty Dingus Magee, starring Frank Sinatra, is based on Markson's first novel, The Ballad of Dingus Magee, an anti-Western. He wrote three crime novels early in his career.
Educated at Union College and Columbia University, Markson began his writing career as a journalist and book editor, periodically taking up work as a college professor at Columbia University, Long Island University, and The New School.
Markson died in his New York City, West Village apartment.
Markson's work is characterized by an unconventional approach to narration and plot. While his early works may draw on the modernist tradition of William Faulkner and Malcolm Lowry, Markson says his later novels are "literally crammed with literary and artistic anecdotes" and "nonlinear, discontinuous, collage-like, an assemblage."
Dalkey Archive Press has published several of his novels. In December 2006, publishers Shoemaker & Hoard republished two of Markson's early crime novels Epitaph for a Tramp and Epitaph for a Dead Beat in one volume.
In addition to his novels, he has published a book of poetry and a critical study of Malcolm Lowry.
The movie Dirty Dingus Magee, starring Frank Sinatra, is based on Markson's first novel, The Ballad of Dingus Magee, an anti-Western. He wrote three crime novels early in his career.
Educated at Union College and Columbia University, Markson began his writing career as a journalist and book editor, periodically taking up work as a college professor at Columbia University, Long Island University, and The New School.
Markson died in his New York City, West Village apartment.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 3, 2014
This review is of a book won from Goodreads First Reads Giveaway program.
Simsy, you're a pisser—
You tell me you'll be in town about 45 minutes, you've got sixteen readings, nine maybe-readings, eleven tentative dinner plans—and I should pick any time that's fine with me!
This small collection is filled with humorous statements similar to that. I've known of David Markson for years, but until a few days ago hadn't actually read anything he had written. He's one of those authors, one I know I'll enjoy when I read him, but haven't read yet because I'm worried that I won't. The first book I read was one of his notecard tetralogy, This is Not a Novel, which I've owned for years and now read over the past couple days because I won this collection of letters through the First Reads program.
What stood out for me while reading This Is Not a Novel (and what was confirmed for me while reading these letters) is that Markson was an extraordinarily kind, funny, and intelligent person and writer. The correspondence here began when Laura Sims wrote a likely gushing letter of adoration to Markson who in turn wrote a sincere response. From there, as has happened countless times in literary history, the two began writing back and forth, sharing their thoughts, debating literature, talking about their personal lives, and laying the groundwork for inside jokes, mutual respect, and friendship.
This is a charming collection and only makes me want to read more by Markson. The supplementary information at the end of the collection adds to an even better understanding of Markson and, as in the case of the Afterword by Ann Beattie, shows just how Markson's writing and existence has affected so many people.
My only "issue" is the same here as with many collections of letters—that it's entirely one-sided. We see here only Markson's letters which, admittedly, is what the subtitle of the book indicates; but I like seeing the original text that someone is responding to. In all fairness, however, Sims does a fantastic job of including footnotes to help explain Markson's references and/or inside jokes, for which I was grateful. Also grateful that Sims felt comfortable sharing these letters with the reader-world. Had she not written that one, first letter, none of these would have existed.
David Markson would have hated Goodreads.
January 8, 2015
This book is worth the price just to hear Markson's voice again. A longer review will follow.
And here it is, up as of 8 January 2015:
http://www.winnipegreview.com/wp/2015...
And here it is, up as of 8 January 2015:
http://www.winnipegreview.com/wp/2015...
October 27, 2017
Oh so goddam human it hurts. Did Sims betray Markson by publishing their private correspondence? Probably. Is it an essential peek behind the wizard's curtain? Absolutely. Don't skip it if you're doing a Full Markson. I'll find out...
August 22, 2023
This was a gem for a Markson fan like me. Tender, funny, revelatory, and very moving.
May 31, 2014
This book is a winner on so many levels. Even if you do not know David Markson and his body of work this is a great read. By the end of the book you will be going to get Markson's novels. (And maybe even Laura Sims poetry). This is a surprisingly thorough glimpse at a famous author (I say glimpse because the book is literally small and contains nothing longer than short postcard writings by author David Markson.)The book is a compilation of his notes or postcards written to poet Laura Sims over several years and there are a couple of other pieces about him. All together you get an insight into this character who should by all accounts be far more famous than he is. If Sims purpose in publishing this was to increase the world's appreciation of Markson and stir up some interest in him, then she has succeeded marvelously.
February 14, 2014
How can I not give five stars to a book that mentions me? Ha.
No, but seriously, anyone interested in David Markson will enjoy this lovely little book of letters.
No, but seriously, anyone interested in David Markson will enjoy this lovely little book of letters.
December 17, 2014
I won this book. Seriously. I joined Goodreads and won this book. I never win anything! (Okay, there was that one time I won lawn seats from Tower Records to see The Cure in concert. But Tower Records is a ghost now, and Robert and the boys played more of their manic-poppy stuff, not the cool-depressive stuff, so that doesn't really count, right?)
It wasn't a miracle that I won. It wasn't magic. I entered to win. At the time, my thought process was, "Hey, my friend from college just released ANOTHER book. My dreams of being a famous author are shot, so this should pour salt on the wound pretty well. But I can't really BUY the book. That would be some form of a psychological and masochistic suicide attempt. But if I WIN the book, then, hey, that's the universe telling me that I suck and that is a much more effective pain." I can't shut up in my own internal dialogue, help me.
Back in reality; however, my friend from college, Laura Sims, has had several books of amazing poetry published and I was interested to see what this new book entailed. And the record of a correspondence with David Markson was, to my mind, the sort of literary equivalent of trading jokes with Jonathan Winters over a coffee-fueled afternoon at Starbucks. Or sharing a karaoke stage with Leonard Cohen singing Tom Waits songs.
To clarify, I must admit I was not a huge reader of David Markson prior to this book. I always considered Markson to be a "writer's writer" or at least someone to read with an English degree tucked into your belt, prepared to be wielded at a moment's prompting. Being neither, I shied away from Markson's novels, not thinking I would not enjoy them, but that they may be too "difficult," a term Markson humorously uses to describe Sims' own poetry.
But I took a deep breath and opened the cover. Here is what I discovered. (You will notice that I did not do the obligatory quotation frenzy within this review. Most of what I write will be what I felt after reading the book. I like to say that I am more about the "groove" of a song than the lyrics, but we are talking about books, so aren't the words the important thing? Perhaps, but those words tell a much better story than I ever could, so go read the book yourself. Buy it though. Laura has a future to consider.)
Reading FARE FORWARD was a pretty fantastic experience. Honestly. I read the whole book in one sitting. That is not something that happened for me in almost 15 years. Through the pages, Markson comes across as an aging uncle at times, alternating between teasing Sims, trying to impress her (even though the correspondence began by Sims writing an "impassioned fan letter" to him), mentoring her, and more. This is not meant to minimize Markson, but it did humanize him, especially to a novice like myself who held him on such a pedestal.
I learned things about Markson I didn't know previously (mostly through my own forced ignorance of the man) like his method of using index cards for his novel creation, his humor, and also his pride in knowing his place in the history of the written word. Markson appears as someone very exacting in what his work means, how to read it, how it (and he) should be presented, and how his legacy is defined. Not in a negative manner, just as one who has accepted that he is who he is and he has created what he has. Not that he wouldn't hold a grudge, but he also seems to acknowledge the folly of such a course of action.
Concerned at first at only having half of the correspondence presented (Sims only shares Markson's letters, not copies of her own missives to him), Sims does a very good job of keeping the narrative going. Her notes on the text, smartly presented along with the corresponding parts of Markson's letters, provide a feel for how the conversation ebbed and flowed. This technique made the book feel less like a collection of postcards and more like a story was being told.
And that story...
This isn't Markson's story. We hear about his efforts at writing a novel. And we hear about his physical ailments. And we hear about his days and his evenings. We get to know him, however briefly, but we don't hear his story. Yes, he talks about his own doings and his own adventures, but we have to remember the context of these letters.
Markson is writing to a younger fan who is beginning and building her own literary career and life. We read Markson responses to Sims' engagement, to Sims' first book of poetry being published, to Sims' jobs and travels, and to Sims herself. We feel Sims' sweet sarcasm and gentle teasing of Markson in his returned barbs. We come away from the book feeling like we "know" Sims a bit more than Markson, even though we may "understand" Markson better at the end.
This is not a criticism. In a way, Sims has presented the first chapter of her memoirs through the eyes of David Markson. (How fantastic is that?!?!) One has to wonder with whom she will partner to lay out the ensuing chapters. In many ways, I find it to be a very innovative form, one which would no doubt be appreciated by David Markson himself. And given his obvious affection for Ms. Sims, I am sure he would be proud.
In short, do not choose this book if you are looking for a biography of David Markson. It makes no claims to be such a tome. but it is a fascinating sketch. It is a photographic essay through the words of snail mail - brief moments in time, frozen and shared to allow his story told around it and be grounded. As such, it accomplishes a grand task - it brings Markson down from the "too-revered-to-read" bookshelf and into my hands to read and enjoy. And for that, this book is indispensable.
It wasn't a miracle that I won. It wasn't magic. I entered to win. At the time, my thought process was, "Hey, my friend from college just released ANOTHER book. My dreams of being a famous author are shot, so this should pour salt on the wound pretty well. But I can't really BUY the book. That would be some form of a psychological and masochistic suicide attempt. But if I WIN the book, then, hey, that's the universe telling me that I suck and that is a much more effective pain." I can't shut up in my own internal dialogue, help me.
Back in reality; however, my friend from college, Laura Sims, has had several books of amazing poetry published and I was interested to see what this new book entailed. And the record of a correspondence with David Markson was, to my mind, the sort of literary equivalent of trading jokes with Jonathan Winters over a coffee-fueled afternoon at Starbucks. Or sharing a karaoke stage with Leonard Cohen singing Tom Waits songs.
To clarify, I must admit I was not a huge reader of David Markson prior to this book. I always considered Markson to be a "writer's writer" or at least someone to read with an English degree tucked into your belt, prepared to be wielded at a moment's prompting. Being neither, I shied away from Markson's novels, not thinking I would not enjoy them, but that they may be too "difficult," a term Markson humorously uses to describe Sims' own poetry.
But I took a deep breath and opened the cover. Here is what I discovered. (You will notice that I did not do the obligatory quotation frenzy within this review. Most of what I write will be what I felt after reading the book. I like to say that I am more about the "groove" of a song than the lyrics, but we are talking about books, so aren't the words the important thing? Perhaps, but those words tell a much better story than I ever could, so go read the book yourself. Buy it though. Laura has a future to consider.)
Reading FARE FORWARD was a pretty fantastic experience. Honestly. I read the whole book in one sitting. That is not something that happened for me in almost 15 years. Through the pages, Markson comes across as an aging uncle at times, alternating between teasing Sims, trying to impress her (even though the correspondence began by Sims writing an "impassioned fan letter" to him), mentoring her, and more. This is not meant to minimize Markson, but it did humanize him, especially to a novice like myself who held him on such a pedestal.
I learned things about Markson I didn't know previously (mostly through my own forced ignorance of the man) like his method of using index cards for his novel creation, his humor, and also his pride in knowing his place in the history of the written word. Markson appears as someone very exacting in what his work means, how to read it, how it (and he) should be presented, and how his legacy is defined. Not in a negative manner, just as one who has accepted that he is who he is and he has created what he has. Not that he wouldn't hold a grudge, but he also seems to acknowledge the folly of such a course of action.
Concerned at first at only having half of the correspondence presented (Sims only shares Markson's letters, not copies of her own missives to him), Sims does a very good job of keeping the narrative going. Her notes on the text, smartly presented along with the corresponding parts of Markson's letters, provide a feel for how the conversation ebbed and flowed. This technique made the book feel less like a collection of postcards and more like a story was being told.
And that story...
This isn't Markson's story. We hear about his efforts at writing a novel. And we hear about his physical ailments. And we hear about his days and his evenings. We get to know him, however briefly, but we don't hear his story. Yes, he talks about his own doings and his own adventures, but we have to remember the context of these letters.
Markson is writing to a younger fan who is beginning and building her own literary career and life. We read Markson responses to Sims' engagement, to Sims' first book of poetry being published, to Sims' jobs and travels, and to Sims herself. We feel Sims' sweet sarcasm and gentle teasing of Markson in his returned barbs. We come away from the book feeling like we "know" Sims a bit more than Markson, even though we may "understand" Markson better at the end.
This is not a criticism. In a way, Sims has presented the first chapter of her memoirs through the eyes of David Markson. (How fantastic is that?!?!) One has to wonder with whom she will partner to lay out the ensuing chapters. In many ways, I find it to be a very innovative form, one which would no doubt be appreciated by David Markson himself. And given his obvious affection for Ms. Sims, I am sure he would be proud.
In short, do not choose this book if you are looking for a biography of David Markson. It makes no claims to be such a tome. but it is a fascinating sketch. It is a photographic essay through the words of snail mail - brief moments in time, frozen and shared to allow his story told around it and be grounded. As such, it accomplishes a grand task - it brings Markson down from the "too-revered-to-read" bookshelf and into my hands to read and enjoy. And for that, this book is indispensable.
December 17, 2023
The "Author" "Writer" "Novelist" that features in Markson's three experimental books - This is Not a Novel, Vanishing Point, and The Last Novel, is here, to a large degree, in a series of letters, his side only, in a correspondence with poet/novelist Sims. The essay Sims wrote about Markson's work, an interview with him, as well as his remarks for an AWP conference on his work are also included, and I'm glad to have read them. I'm still astonished that I've only learned of Markson recently, but now am making my way through all of his works. He really should be so much better known than he is and was during his time.
October 11, 2021
простенька книженція, зібрана з великої любові до Марксона, але нічого кардинально нового вона не додає, хіба що кілька милих нюансів, але і те цінне.
July 23, 2014
The name David Markson is a secret password among his enthusiasts. He is known as a writers’ writer which means a serious reader’s writer. It’s a terrible thing that I have already read all his books but this slim tribute to him was like medicine. The bulk of the book is made up of postcard messages that Markson sent to the author, Laura Sims, some a few lines, some longer. This is especially bittersweet to me since I was also one of Markson’s postcard pals and reading these that he sent to Sims I enjoyed the same charm, combativeness and wit I knew from my own, less-extensive correspondence with him. There is also an interview here that Sims did with Markson in his last year which is illuminating, and a lovely afterword by Markson’s friend, Ann Beattie. Ann Beattie was the reason I became his correspondent. If you haven’t read Markson start with Wittgenstein’s Mistress and soon you will want to read everything and that includes this sweet valentine to his fans.
May 5, 2015
I love this little book of David Markson's letters to poet Laura Sims. Each slim missive is a little window into the maestro's life. His sense of humor, erudition and warmth emanate from every page. For those who haven't read Markson's works this is could be a great introduction because also included here is Sims's short essay on Markson that has some nice insights into his best novels. Still, it is probably even better for his loyalist readers who'll detect echoes of his books in his correspondence. The book does leave the reader longing for a Collected Letters of David Markson which will someday hopefully find its way into print. Anne Beattie's afterward is great too.
April 30, 2014
I received this book free through the Goodreads Giveaway.
The first thing that I noticed when I opened my package was how compact this book is, this is actually great, I can store it in my purse or my jacket easily, it is a book I can take anywhere and also one that I will.
I laughed countless times while reading the letters between Laura Sims and David Markson. If you are a fan of David Markson, this is a must read. If you are a fan of having a few laughs, this is a book you'd enjoy.
The first thing that I noticed when I opened my package was how compact this book is, this is actually great, I can store it in my purse or my jacket easily, it is a book I can take anywhere and also one that I will.
I laughed countless times while reading the letters between Laura Sims and David Markson. If you are a fan of David Markson, this is a must read. If you are a fan of having a few laughs, this is a book you'd enjoy.
May 25, 2014
This is a book that is only meant for those who've read and loved David Markson's novels. Every honor and praise heaped upon his writing is deserved, and from the content of these postcards it seems he was a remarkable man as well.
With luck, Dalkey Archive will publish a larger collection of his correspondence from when he was younger.
I'd like to read all his books and eventually reread Wittgenstein's Mistress, his masterpiece. In the meantime, would anyone like me to send them a postcard? Markson's postcard writing inspired me to pick up the habit again (just wrote three).
With luck, Dalkey Archive will publish a larger collection of his correspondence from when he was younger.
I'd like to read all his books and eventually reread Wittgenstein's Mistress, his masterpiece. In the meantime, would anyone like me to send them a postcard? Markson's postcard writing inspired me to pick up the habit again (just wrote three).
March 31, 2014
This exchange between two dazzling writers at different points in their lives is such good company. It's the sort of book one can go back to multiple times. Markson's humor and his rapport with Sims is just so fun to read.
August 5, 2016
Warm, humorous, insightful. Now I want to reread what I've read (Wittgenstein's Mistress and Reader's Block) and read the other "notecard" books (This Is Not a Novel, Vanishing Point, The Last Novel), as well as Lowry's Under the Volcano.
May 17, 2014
Laura Sims has culled together a wonderful book of letters from Markson. Love this book. Very interesting. A humorous man. Anybody who is interested in Markson's work will surely enjoy this book.
August 5, 2016
This was such an enjoyable read! I highly recommend this book for both fans and to-be fans of Markson.
May 9, 2014
Having never read anything from this author before i was blow away with this witty commentary journey created through letters. This is one book that im never going to get tired of reading. Love it.
January 16, 2017
A collection of letters and post cards that the experimental novelist Markson wrote and sent in the last decade of his life. I enjoyed a tiny glimpse into the mind of a unique writer. You get his humor and his prickliness and sense of what he attempted in his writing. The book also had a critical essay about his work and an interview.
December 16, 2020
I love Laura Sims' article in the appendix.
I am pretty sure Markson was happy with it as well, he says so in the letters – all of them pure Markson, that mix of wit, bleakness, mockery, and above all love for the arts.
I am pretty sure Markson was happy with it as well, he says so in the letters – all of them pure Markson, that mix of wit, bleakness, mockery, and above all love for the arts.
September 25, 2016
Prachtig kleinood met divers werk van en over gigant Markson: brieven aan dichteres-vriendin Laura Sims (inclusief haar innemende en verklarende voetnoten), een interview dat Sims van Markson afnam, een hilarische toespraak van Markson en een pakkende necrologie door collega-auteur Ann Beattie. Great stuff, fare forward!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews