carson mccullers

"There's nothing that makes you so aware of the improvisation of human existence as a song unfinished. Or an old address book. "--Carson McCullers

Carson McCullers is one of the greatest american writers. It is a good thing that Universities in the US go through her works using diverse perspectives (women/queer studies, subalternity, space, etc.), but I think it is even vain to talk about her or her works. One thing is sure: she is one of those rare writers that write through illuminations, using her grotesque characters as very few authors (Faulkner) have done, being able to endow them with a metaphysical quality. Her complete novels are published in a single volume and her works are being reprinted constantly. What a privilege! These novels are simply breathtaking, and the novella 'The ballad of the sad café', probably one of the most important short novels ever written. (Merchant/Ivory productions made a very loyal film based on this novella, starring Vanessa Redgrave as the fascinating Miss Amelia).