February 2nd, 2010 / 5:20 pm
Power Quote

The Dead Relative

McCaffery: Do you recall the germinating idea for The Dead Father?

Barthelme: A matter of having a father and being a father.

McCaffery: In some basic sense the book deals with the notion that we’re all dragging around behind us the corpses of our fathers, as well as the past in general.

Barthelme: Worse: Dragging these ahead of us. I have several younger brothers, among them my brother Frederick, who is also a writer. After The Dead Father came out, he telephoned and said, “I’m working on a new novel.” I said, “What’s it called?” and he said, “The Dead Brother.” You have to admire the generational wit there.

Featured is a painting by my brother. Ever feel like you are, inevitably, always in a shadow? Or do you feel inspired by a talented sibling?

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47 Comments

  1. reynard

      my sister is younger than me. she works for clear channel, drives an audi, owns a house, and is waiting to be granted french citizenship via her husband. we have different ideas about success.

  2. reynard

      my sister is younger than me. she works for clear channel, drives an audi, owns a house, and is waiting to be granted french citizenship via her husband. we have different ideas about success.

  3. reynard

      my sister is younger than me. she works for clear channel, drives an audi, owns a house, and is waiting to be granted french citizenship via her husband. we have different ideas about success.

  4. reynard

      my sister is younger than me. she works for clear channel, drives an audi, owns a house, and is waiting to be granted french citizenship via her husband. we have different ideas about success.

  5. paulb

      where is that interview from?

  6. paulb

      where is that interview from?

  7. paulb

      where is that interview from?

  8. paulb

      where is that interview from?

  9. Janey Smith

      I’m an orphan. So, I’ve grown accustomed to living in the shadows of “dead” relatives. But, this inspires me.

  10. Janey Smith

      I’m an orphan. So, I’ve grown accustomed to living in the shadows of “dead” relatives. But, this inspires me.

  11. Janey Smith

      I’m an orphan. So, I’ve grown accustomed to living in the shadows of “dead” relatives. But, this inspires me.

  12. Janey Smith

      I’m an orphan. So, I’ve grown accustomed to living in the shadows of “dead” relatives. But, this inspires me.

  13. jereme

      i tried to read frederick.

      terrible.

  14. jereme

      i tried to read frederick.

      terrible.

  15. jereme

      i tried to read frederick.

      terrible.

  16. jereme

      i tried to read frederick.

      terrible.

  17. Adam Humphreys

      damn

  18. Adam Humphreys

      damn

  19. Adam Humphreys

      damn

  20. Adam Humphreys

      damn

  21. Matthew Simmons

      Larry McCaffery. You can find it in “Not-Knowing.”

  22. Matthew Simmons

      Larry McCaffery. You can find it in “Not-Knowing.”

  23. Matthew Simmons

      Larry McCaffery. You can find it in “Not-Knowing.”

  24. chris

      My brother has a production company but makes these videos on the side just for fun:

      http://vimeo.com/northernlights/videos

      (I recommend “Feel it All Around” and “O Pato”)

      I don’t know if I’m biased but I never get sick of them. They’re fun to watch, entertaining and you can tell he’s having a good time making them. I’m inspired by this. I wish I could approach writing with the same lightheartedness and enthusiasm that he approaches these projects.

  25. chris

      My brother has a production company but makes these videos on the side just for fun:

      http://vimeo.com/northernlights/videos

      (I recommend “Feel it All Around” and “O Pato”)

      I don’t know if I’m biased but I never get sick of them. They’re fun to watch, entertaining and you can tell he’s having a good time making them. I’m inspired by this. I wish I could approach writing with the same lightheartedness and enthusiasm that he approaches these projects.

  26. chris

      My brother has a production company but makes these videos on the side just for fun:

      http://vimeo.com/northernlights/videos

      (I recommend “Feel it All Around” and “O Pato”)

      I don’t know if I’m biased but I never get sick of them. They’re fun to watch, entertaining and you can tell he’s having a good time making them. I’m inspired by this. I wish I could approach writing with the same lightheartedness and enthusiasm that he approaches these projects.

  27. chris

      My brother has a production company but makes these videos on the side just for fun:

      http://vimeo.com/northernlights/videos

      (I recommend “Feel it All Around” and “O Pato”)

      I don’t know if I’m biased but I never get sick of them. They’re fun to watch, entertaining and you can tell he’s having a good time making them. I’m inspired by this. I wish I could approach writing with the same lightheartedness and enthusiasm that he approaches these projects.

  28. Ryan Call

      likewise i am constantly amazed by the artwork my sister produces.

      i dont feel like im working in her shadow.vi feel like the fac tthat she draws things makes me want to write more.

      i really wish i could draw like she does.

  29. Ryan Call

      likewise i am constantly amazed by the artwork my sister produces.

      i dont feel like im working in her shadow.vi feel like the fac tthat she draws things makes me want to write more.

      i really wish i could draw like she does.

  30. Ryan Call

      likewise i am constantly amazed by the artwork my sister produces.

      i dont feel like im working in her shadow.vi feel like the fac tthat she draws things makes me want to write more.

      i really wish i could draw like she does.

  31. Ryan Call

      likewise i am constantly amazed by the artwork my sister produces.

      i dont feel like im working in her shadow.vi feel like the fac tthat she draws things makes me want to write more.

      i really wish i could draw like she does.

  32. alan

      Question: how common is it for literary talent to be shared by siblings?

      The Barthelmes, the Brontes, and who else?

      It`s supposed to be rare for sons to inherit talent for writing. Kingsley and Martin Amis, Evelyn and Auberon Waugh, Alexander Dumas and fils, that`s about it as far as I know.

  33. alan

      Question: how common is it for literary talent to be shared by siblings?

      The Barthelmes, the Brontes, and who else?

      It`s supposed to be rare for sons to inherit talent for writing. Kingsley and Martin Amis, Evelyn and Auberon Waugh, Alexander Dumas and fils, that`s about it as far as I know.

  34. alan

      Question: how common is it for literary talent to be shared by siblings?

      The Barthelmes, the Brontes, and who else?

      It`s supposed to be rare for sons to inherit talent for writing. Kingsley and Martin Amis, Evelyn and Auberon Waugh, Alexander Dumas and fils, that`s about it as far as I know.

  35. alan

      Question: how common is it for literary talent to be shared by siblings?

      The Barthelmes, the Brontes, and who else?

      It`s supposed to be rare for sons to inherit talent for writing. Kingsley and Martin Amis, Evelyn and Auberon Waugh, Alexander Dumas and fils, that`s about it as far as I know.

  36. Tim Ramick

      William and Henry and Alice James (siblings). Thomas and Heinrich Mann (brothers), two of Thomas’ sons, Klaus Mann and Golo Mann, and one of Thomas’ daughter, Erika Mann (they are all better known in Germany, of course, than in the U.S.). James Agee and his son, Joel Agee.

  37. Tim Ramick

      William and Henry and Alice James (siblings). Thomas and Heinrich Mann (brothers), two of Thomas’ sons, Klaus Mann and Golo Mann, and one of Thomas’ daughter, Erika Mann (they are all better known in Germany, of course, than in the U.S.). James Agee and his son, Joel Agee.

  38. Tim Ramick

      William and Henry and Alice James (siblings). Thomas and Heinrich Mann (brothers), two of Thomas’ sons, Klaus Mann and Golo Mann, and one of Thomas’ daughter, Erika Mann (they are all better known in Germany, of course, than in the U.S.). James Agee and his son, Joel Agee.

  39. paulb

      thought so.

      many thanks.

  40. paulb

      thought so.

      many thanks.

  41. paulb

      thought so.

      many thanks.

  42. paulb

      thought so.

      many thanks.

  43. alan

      I should have thought of the Jameses.

  44. alan

      I should have thought of the Jameses.

  45. alan

      I should have thought of the Jameses.

  46. alan

      I should have thought of the Jameses.

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