That's a terrific compliment, thank you. In Substack publications like this one, I imagine lots of longform pieces start out voicier and more info-packed than they finally appear. The credit goes to the editors here, for allowing it to breathe.
Such a thrilling piece, very long but so engaging that I couldn’t stop reading even though I’ve never read anything by Vollman and think I would find him indigestible.
When people ask me about the world of “Publishing” I feel like such a dilettante giving any answer— writers like Vollman are so prolific. He’s so wildly skilled at his craft, and yet the publisher/writer relationship is such a consequential piece of the puzzle. So many things have to go right at the same time for things to work.
This is a beautiful presentation of Vollmann, his work, and that of those with whom he has worked. Thank you.
I'm slowly reading the full Rising Up and Rising Down now, and reviewing each volume for an upcoming literary journal, and am consistently mesmerized by someone who takes the task of the writer—and the seeker; the person willing to think and feel—so seriously.
This profile makes me sad that William has experienced the losses he has, but thrilled by the fact that there are still patient readers and fans willing to attend to his books.
I had never heard of Vollman before reading this piece, but now I am infinitely curious about this man and his (too many?) words. Thank you, Alexander, for the introduction.
Good morrrrrrrrning, Vietnam! I read WSJ’s short piece on forthcoming “Tablet”and raced over here to see your deep weeds feature. Bravo to you.
Bill is displaying the dignity of the dying man in his current era of “not blaming” Viking for kicking him out.
That calm is the only road for an author’s mental health, but WE, the readers and critics— we can pin the tail on the donkey.
It is *shameful* that Viking-PRH (Bertelsmann), who spends untold millions on crap that will never sell (Look up one of their latest political celebrity advances) would not find it an honor to work with Bill on his last book.
Believe me, the paper cost, the production cost, is IRRELEVANT in their big picture. They literally have NOTHING BETTER to do.
Publishers publish prestige, world-changing work, because they’re publishers. They exist because they are founded in the arts. Otherwise, they’re pushing garment racks around.
When Robert Maxwell “died mysteriously,” my first big NY publisher, Scribner/MacMillan, his baby, went into free fall. Was then assimilated by SImon and Schuster. I lost my original editor and got a new young man, my own age. (20s).
I asked where he’d worked in publishing before S&S, and he said, “Oh, I didn’t. I’ve been selling rags in the Garment district.”
He must have seen the look on my face.
“It’s really not that different! Just pushing racks around.”
I don’t know Vollman’s work (should I be embarrassed?) but now I know yours. Magnificent! I’ve had my own “adventures” in publishing, some wonderful and some winding and torturous and some infuriating and some very sad (involving dearest editor-firing and later suicide) and I’ve never read anything that captured just how complicated and full of strangeness publishing books, especially during the past ten years, can be. Not that my adventures are anywhere near as fascinating as the Vollman saga! But still, it’s a pleasure to have such a significant part of an author’s life presented with such respect for detail. But the life of the man is there, too, in this piece, reminding the reader that we are not just our books—but also that our books are among the most important relationships in our lives. And what a struggle it is to bring them into the world the way we want. I also loved having to slow down to read this….I’m a speed reader, and since I do so much research, have developed some bad skimming habits—handy when doing research but not the experience of savoring when reading that I had as a kid. This was impossible to skim—and who would want to?
One of the best longform magazine style pieces I've yet seen published on Substack.
That's a terrific compliment, thank you. In Substack publications like this one, I imagine lots of longform pieces start out voicier and more info-packed than they finally appear. The credit goes to the editors here, for allowing it to breathe.
Staggering. This delicately and relentlessly reported piece just stunned me.
Such a thrilling piece, very long but so engaging that I couldn’t stop reading even though I’ve never read anything by Vollman and think I would find him indigestible.
Another brilliant read.
What a life. 😳
When people ask me about the world of “Publishing” I feel like such a dilettante giving any answer— writers like Vollman are so prolific. He’s so wildly skilled at his craft, and yet the publisher/writer relationship is such a consequential piece of the puzzle. So many things have to go right at the same time for things to work.
This is a beautiful presentation of Vollmann, his work, and that of those with whom he has worked. Thank you.
I'm slowly reading the full Rising Up and Rising Down now, and reviewing each volume for an upcoming literary journal, and am consistently mesmerized by someone who takes the task of the writer—and the seeker; the person willing to think and feel—so seriously.
This profile makes me sad that William has experienced the losses he has, but thrilled by the fact that there are still patient readers and fans willing to attend to his books.
I love the idea of reading/reviewing each volume, and I'd love to follow along. Is there a page I should follow or bookmark?
Oh sick—I'd love that! I will post a link in this thread when the site goes live on April 7th.
I was curious enough to set a reminder to myself, and I think Ken must mean his review in the new Zona Motel. Please correct me if I'm wrong. https://zonamotel.substack.com/p/review-rising-up-and-rising-down
Jacob: yes! Thank you!
Alexander: there it is. Hope y'all dig it and the (slow) series to come!
Wonderful! I feel like I personally met Vollmann. Makes me want to take You Bright and Risen Angels off the shelf. Great job on the article!
Wow. Outstanding job. Captures the man, with all his difficulties, with sympathy.
This is the kind of literary reportage, I so crave, and sadly, see so little of. Bravo.
I had never heard of Vollman before reading this piece, but now I am infinitely curious about this man and his (too many?) words. Thank you, Alexander, for the introduction.
Amazing piece. Perhaps one of the best pieces I've read on Vollmann.
Excellent column again from you all.
Good morrrrrrrrning, Vietnam! I read WSJ’s short piece on forthcoming “Tablet”and raced over here to see your deep weeds feature. Bravo to you.
Bill is displaying the dignity of the dying man in his current era of “not blaming” Viking for kicking him out.
That calm is the only road for an author’s mental health, but WE, the readers and critics— we can pin the tail on the donkey.
It is *shameful* that Viking-PRH (Bertelsmann), who spends untold millions on crap that will never sell (Look up one of their latest political celebrity advances) would not find it an honor to work with Bill on his last book.
Believe me, the paper cost, the production cost, is IRRELEVANT in their big picture. They literally have NOTHING BETTER to do.
Publishers publish prestige, world-changing work, because they’re publishers. They exist because they are founded in the arts. Otherwise, they’re pushing garment racks around.
I have to confide where I got that last phrase:
When Robert Maxwell “died mysteriously,” my first big NY publisher, Scribner/MacMillan, his baby, went into free fall. Was then assimilated by SImon and Schuster. I lost my original editor and got a new young man, my own age. (20s).
I asked where he’d worked in publishing before S&S, and he said, “Oh, I didn’t. I’ve been selling rags in the Garment district.”
He must have seen the look on my face.
“It’s really not that different! Just pushing racks around.”
Bravo Alexander and bravo TMR ✨✨
I don’t know Vollman’s work (should I be embarrassed?) but now I know yours. Magnificent! I’ve had my own “adventures” in publishing, some wonderful and some winding and torturous and some infuriating and some very sad (involving dearest editor-firing and later suicide) and I’ve never read anything that captured just how complicated and full of strangeness publishing books, especially during the past ten years, can be. Not that my adventures are anywhere near as fascinating as the Vollman saga! But still, it’s a pleasure to have such a significant part of an author’s life presented with such respect for detail. But the life of the man is there, too, in this piece, reminding the reader that we are not just our books—but also that our books are among the most important relationships in our lives. And what a struggle it is to bring them into the world the way we want. I also loved having to slow down to read this….I’m a speed reader, and since I do so much research, have developed some bad skimming habits—handy when doing research but not the experience of savoring when reading that I had as a kid. This was impossible to skim—and who would want to?
Phenomenal piece. Thanks for writing it so well
This is wonderful. Thank you for all the work involved in bringing this to us.