This is incredible. I'm always curious about how much cleanup goes into an exchange like this one but, having coincidentally just spent a few days bingeing Talese's interviews from the past five years or so, I'm inclined to think he just talks this way. Neat paragraphs, stories within stories and all of them tying up. But I particularly loved the question about having nine decades inside him. All those faces and names. The Styrons and Pacinos walking on and off the stage of his memory. This is transcendent, guys, congrats (and kudos)!
Good God, (swoons)... This is the most remarkable interview I’ve read all year. The old-school magazine nerd in me longs for it to be bound and glossy, with full-bleed portraits and a whiff of ink that says, man, this was when writing still had swagger. Seriously iconic.
I reread “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold” every few months, pleasure undiminished. Gay Talese is a one-of-kind repository of writing history, and the most atypical ever University of Alabama alum. Thanks for the peek.
So nostalgic, I didn't want it to end, returning to the sad reality of todays society. To live such a luminous life with no regrets. "You see, I’m a mid-20th century guy. I’m stuck in the ’50s." What kept him so young which I totally concur. For me however I remain "stuck" in the 70's.
This is incredible. I'm always curious about how much cleanup goes into an exchange like this one but, having coincidentally just spent a few days bingeing Talese's interviews from the past five years or so, I'm inclined to think he just talks this way. Neat paragraphs, stories within stories and all of them tying up. But I particularly loved the question about having nine decades inside him. All those faces and names. The Styrons and Pacinos walking on and off the stage of his memory. This is transcendent, guys, congrats (and kudos)!
Good God, (swoons)... This is the most remarkable interview I’ve read all year. The old-school magazine nerd in me longs for it to be bound and glossy, with full-bleed portraits and a whiff of ink that says, man, this was when writing still had swagger. Seriously iconic.
Alisa, thanks a million. Good news is it will be bound and very inky.
Oh, count me in on that!
Absolutely
incredible!
✍️🌅👏
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Wonderful article of a national treasure.
My lord, what a treasure, what an achievement, what a good thing TMR has done! Bravo!!!! And thank you.
Wonderful work guys.
Outstanding!
Great interview. Glad to know he’s still alive.
Loved this.
Superb portrait of a singular man.
Wonderful insight of a giant who doesn't see himself as one.
I reread “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold” every few months, pleasure undiminished. Gay Talese is a one-of-kind repository of writing history, and the most atypical ever University of Alabama alum. Thanks for the peek.
I just did the same thing. It's masterful work. Era-defining.
Feels like his finest work (even if he doesn't think so.)
Amazing interview.
Merely magnificent--the interview, the man, the insights, the candor. And the pix.
A giant is (still) walking among us.
Ottimo!!
Just brilliant. Had me feeling the excitement I felt reading great magazine writing forty years ago as a teen. Thank you.
Beautifully written interview. So glad to have been able to learn about this remarkable man.
So nostalgic, I didn't want it to end, returning to the sad reality of todays society. To live such a luminous life with no regrets. "You see, I’m a mid-20th century guy. I’m stuck in the ’50s." What kept him so young which I totally concur. For me however I remain "stuck" in the 70's.