As an expatriate kid, who now loves an exile, this was one rich piece of writing. Much to think about. And I have now found her stories. There's my evening. Thank you.
Mavis Gallant is one of my favorite writers, so thank you for this incredibly thoughtful piece. Maybe it will succeed in prying Gallant's Journals into the marketplace (I'm looking at you, Knopf). Looking forward to your next book. I'll satisfy myself with these postings until then.
Thank you, Brandon! As someone who breathes short fiction, I am wondering why I haven't read Gallant till now - hence, so glad I stumbled upon your post. I am travelling this weekend too, and now I know who to take along - Mavis Gallant it will be!
Moreover, being completely new to substack (posted my first post on a short story today - do check it out, if you so please, would love your input on it, will post the link down), happy to have found your newsletter first up. I know I will be spending some time here :-)
I was an expat living out of my suitcase in Paris for nearly 14 years. I still sometimes give the impression of someone who was in a 14 year coma and missed the late 80s to early 2000s, and have a weird accent, and am unused to people sticking around long (expats who hang with expats see many of them move on). There are many odd little costs to being an expat. Thank you for these observations alone. But also, for those brilliant paragraphs. The doctor weeping unnoticed in the rain was a gift.
Fantastic analysis. I’ve been living in Paris for the last 12 years and still think about this question of “the expat as witness” most days. It reminds me of the Baldwin quote in Giovanni’s Room:
“Perhaps, as we say in America, I wanted to find myself. This is an interesting phrase, which certainly does not mean what it says but betrays a nagging suspicion that something has been misplaced.”
See you in Vincennes / shoot a man a message if you’re looking for the small but consistently pleasant literary expat dive bar scene
As an expatriate kid, who now loves an exile, this was one rich piece of writing. Much to think about. And I have now found her stories. There's my evening. Thank you.
Mavis Gallant is one of my favorite writers, so thank you for this incredibly thoughtful piece. Maybe it will succeed in prying Gallant's Journals into the marketplace (I'm looking at you, Knopf). Looking forward to your next book. I'll satisfy myself with these postings until then.
Thank you, Brandon! As someone who breathes short fiction, I am wondering why I haven't read Gallant till now - hence, so glad I stumbled upon your post. I am travelling this weekend too, and now I know who to take along - Mavis Gallant it will be!
Moreover, being completely new to substack (posted my first post on a short story today - do check it out, if you so please, would love your input on it, will post the link down), happy to have found your newsletter first up. I know I will be spending some time here :-)
https://substack.com/inbox/post/74063582
Loved the in-depth dissection of the author's usage of grammar!
You really are one of the best literary critics on Substack. I feel you even set the bar.
Thank you for a fantastic piece.
I was an expat living out of my suitcase in Paris for nearly 14 years. I still sometimes give the impression of someone who was in a 14 year coma and missed the late 80s to early 2000s, and have a weird accent, and am unused to people sticking around long (expats who hang with expats see many of them move on). There are many odd little costs to being an expat. Thank you for these observations alone. But also, for those brilliant paragraphs. The doctor weeping unnoticed in the rain was a gift.
Fantastic analysis. I’ve been living in Paris for the last 12 years and still think about this question of “the expat as witness” most days. It reminds me of the Baldwin quote in Giovanni’s Room:
“Perhaps, as we say in America, I wanted to find myself. This is an interesting phrase, which certainly does not mean what it says but betrays a nagging suspicion that something has been misplaced.”
See you in Vincennes / shoot a man a message if you’re looking for the small but consistently pleasant literary expat dive bar scene
Profound, and from an exile from rural Alabama. God damn, sir.
Oh my. Thank you for this. I moved overseas decades ago and have just begun the slow labyrinth between expatriate and immigrant.
Oh my. Thank you for this. I moved overseas decades ago and have just begun the slow labyrinth between expatriate and immigrant.
I loved reading your observations on the story. Thank you.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
Brandon, this is excellent. Do you have other favourite Gallant stories?