Charles Kell

Charles Kell asked Ben Marcus:

Dear Ben, I am a huge fan of your texts and find them unlike any other thing being currently written. Can you talk briefly about John Hawkes--your interactions with him; ways he has possibly influenced you; perhaps (and this is cliché) some "writerly" advice he has given to you?

Ben Marcus I got to Brown after John Hawkes retired, so I sadly missed out on him as a teacher. But I've heard the most incredible testimonies — Jeffrey Eugenides has spoken about what a tremendous teacher Hawkes was. I met him a few times at Robert Coover's house. He was hilarious, warm, brilliant. Of course I was terrified of him, because I'd read all of his books and I had no idea what to do with the real person in front of me. He had no idea, rightly so, who I was. I was just an interloping student, eating Pilar Coover's amazing food. I'm sure I looked like a stunned beast to him. That's what I felt like.

More Answered Questions

Alycia K

Alycia K asked Ben Marcus:

Mr Marcus, 'The Flame Alphabet' shocked me into a literature-induced coma for a few weeks, and it was its originality that drew me to it. Some pieces of literature inspire, and it was a combination of your style and storyline that inspired me. I'm a bit starstruck! So, do you ever have to make yourself feel something to be inspired? Many, many regards, Alycia AUS 17yo

A Goodreads user

A Goodreads user asked Ben Marcus:

I was wondering -- based on the many instances of etymological, semiotical, philosophical, and theological metaphors and constructions -- if you approach your writing from a point of searching, reaching out to an idea or (a) language(?), or do you (perhaps, voraciously) consume etymologies and philosophies, then pare them back and re-arrange them into the language(s) you're creating for your writing(s)?

Manuel Abreu

Manuel Abreu asked Ben Marcus:

What, if any, is the relation between language's reduction-to-concept function and the trope in your work of language being physically harmful to use/experience?

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