Schubertiade :: [SEX] Salter, James. (1925–2015) & Updike, John. (1932–2009) & Shields, Carol. (1935

[SEX] Salter, James. (1925–2015) & Updike, John. (1932–2009) & Shields, Carol. (1935–2003) & Hollinghurst, Alan. (b. 1954)

Writing about Sex - Five Letters from Contemporary Novelists

Four original typed letters signed from authors John Updike, James Salter, Carol Shields, and Alan Hollinghurst, to writer and professor Elizabeth Benedict, regarding their opinions on writing about sex. Benedict solicited opinions from several writers for her 1996 book The Joy of Writing Sex, assembling an interesting and diverse range of views.

James Salter (TLS, 1 p. July 5 [1996]), declines to offer much comment, noting: "I don't write about sex any more, or not much, because everyone else does [...] What comes before and after is as important as the sex [...]" John Updike (TLS, 1 p., April 3 [1995 or 6], with 2 enclosed typed pages from a related essay) reflects on the progression of sex scenes through several of his novels and stories, noting: "The line between sexual realism and pornography is not absolute, since there are moments when reality becomes pornographic. Writing my sex scenes physically excites me, as it should." Carol Shields (TLS, 2 pp., May 5, 1995) expresses her enthusiasm for the idea of the book, confessing "I find writing about sex extraordinarily difficult [...] I think it's hilarious to read '...and he entered her' or '...and they came together.' or 'He played her like a violin.' Lordy! Even to say the word 'kiss' makes me feel foolish and squirmy." Alan Hollinghurst (TLS, 2 pp., July 4, 1995) writes an extensive 8 points in answer to Benedict's questions, especially noting his experience with writing gay sex scenes: "It's hard to think back to intentions of ten years ago or more; but I do remember feeling that the segregation of experience into the Forsterian cryptic and the baldly pornographic did some deep violence to the way life was actually lived and felt, where sexual thoughts and deeds [...] were intimately wrapped up with everything else in life."

Also included is a typed postcard signed from John Updike (November 15, 1996), declining to participate in another project of Benedict's, writing the sex scenes which were left out from books: "Thanks for the procovative [sic] invitation. But to me it savors a bit of drawing a mustache on the Mona Lisa, writing scenes the writer didn't write. Maybe I'm getting priggish in my old age."

In fine condition overall, the letters from Shields and Salter with original envelopes. (15488)

TLS Culture, Ethnicity & Gender Literature