Tuesday, September 20, 2005

"My whole life changed on Kosciuszko Street"

Above: Kosciuszko Street Station (street at left), Henry Miller (centre) and Malvin Wald.

I've recently discovered a great little anecdote involving Henry Miller. It's a short piece called Living History:Life on Kosciuszko Street, written by Malvin Wald, a TV and film writer (he wrote The Naked City in 1948.) The story is made available on-line by Creative Screenwriting magazine.

In it, Wald tells of being at a party in L.A. during the 1970's, at which Henry Miller was to attend. Miller showed up, but was grumpy and uninterested in dishing out advice to the young writers who approached him (his only advice: "Live!"). Wald desribes Miller as "seated in an easy chair, grim-faced, his bald head giving him the appearance of a stone Buddha."

Finally, Wald decided to break the ice with Miller. He used a common link: they both grew up in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. ""Mr. Miller," began Wald, "how long since you've been on Kosciuszko Street?" Miller perked up: the very origin of his love of literature had been touched upon.

"Y'know," he said reflectively, "as a matter of fact, my whole life changed on Kosciuszko Street. Must have been sixty years ago when I was just a dumb kid. I used to read those crime paperbacks. I think they were called 'penny dreadfuls.' They were cops-and-robbers stories like the comic books the kids read today." He rubbed his chin and was thoughtful for a moment. We all waited respectfully for him to finish.

"Well, I was walking along Kosciuszko Street, when I met this guy who was holding a book and he asked me if I would like to read a story called 'Crime and Punishment' by a guy named Dostoevsky. I figured it was one of those cheap thrillers. So I took the book home."

"I couldn't believe what I had read. This was real writing. This was literature. I started to read seriously, for the first time in my life, and that led to my going to Paris to become a professional writer. So in a way, you can say my life as a writer started on Kosciuszko Street."

I apologize to Malvin Wald for quoting so liberally from his story; but I hope this draws attention to the full anecdote, which I hope you'll read.

The above photo of Kosciuszko Street was taken by Jeremiah Cox, from the website subwaynut.com.
The Miller photo excerpt is from a Michael Brennan photograph (from The Paris Review, I think).
The Wald photo excerpt is uncredited on the Creative Screenwriting website.

8 Comments:

Blogger Unknown said...

ralph lauren uk
nike trainers
ugg outlet store
fitflops clearance
moncler jackets
fitflops outlet sale
ferragamo shoes
hollister clothing store
nike outlet
louis vuitton outlet online
louis vuitton handbags outlet
valentino outlet
jordan shoes 2015
fitflop sale
the north face outlet
tory burch outlet online
oakley sunglasses uk
true religion outlet

9:18 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ninest123 16.03
burberry outlet, longchamp outlet, burberry factory outlet, ray ban sunglasses, cheap oakley sunglasses, michael kors handbags, replica watches, louis vuitton outlet, ralph lauren outlet, uggs on sale, prada handbags, louis vuitton outlet online, uggs on sale, christian louboutin, nike free, nike air max, oakley sunglasses, nike air max, oakley sunglasses, ralph lauren polo, christian louboutin, ray ban sunglasses, nike outlet, tiffany jewelry, tiffany jewelry, oakley sunglasses, michael kors outlet online, longchamp bags, michael kors outlet online, louboutin shoes, louboutin uk, prada outlet, uggs outlet, uggs on sale, ray ban sunglasses, michael kors outlet online, tory burch outlet, uggs outlet, gucci handbags, louis vuitton, longchamp outlet, cheap jordans, michael kors outlet, louis vuitton handbags, replica watches, oakley sunglasses, michael kors, louis vuitton outlet

10:49 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

nike blazer pas cher, nike air max uk, polo ralph lauren uk, new balance, ralph lauren pas cher, michael kors, lululemon outlet, jordan pas cher, sac guess pas cher, nike free, burberry pas cher, michael kors uk, nike roshe run pas cher, hermes pas cher, coach outlet store online, coach purses, true religion outlet, replica handbags, north face uk, hogan sito ufficiale, timberland pas cher, north face pas cher, longchamp pas cher, true religion outlet, louboutin pas cher, polo lacoste pas cher, nike air max pas cher, nike air max, mulberry uk, hollister uk, ray ban uk, vanessa bruno pas cher, nike trainers uk, nike air force, lunette oakley pas cher, vans pas cher, michael kors, abercrombie and fitch UK, nike tn pas cher, longchamp soldes, lunette ray ban pas cher, converse, nike air max uk, nike free pas cher, abercrombie and fitch, true religion jeans, michael kors outlet online, nike roshe uk, true religion outlet

10:51 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, karen millen uk, hollister, pandora jewelry, thomas sabo uk, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, canada goose jackets, pandora uk, canada goose uk, canada goose, canada goose pas cher, ugg uk, sac louis vuitton, canada goose, swarovski uk, swarovski jewelry, canada goose outlet, ray ban, replica watches, louis vuitton, louis vuitton, moncler, canada goose jackets, moncler jackets, pandora jewelry, links of london uk, marc jacobs, barbour jackets uk, moncler outlet, converse shoes outlet, canada goose outlet, coach outlet, ugg pas cher, juicy couture outlet, moncler uk, lancel, moncler, wedding dresses uk, barbour, louis vuitton uk, toms shoes, moncler, bottes ugg pas cher, sac louis vuitton, pandora charms, juicy couture outlet, moncler, moncler pas cher, montre pas cher, supra shoes
ninest123 16.03

10:55 pm  
Blogger John said...

supra shoes
ugg outlet
coach outlet online
rolex replica watches
louis vuitton borse
north face outlet
true religion outlet store
polo ralph lauren outlet
red bottom shoes
cheap ray ban sunglasses
20161209yuanyuan

9:50 am  
Blogger raybanoutlet001 said...

chaussure louboutin
oakley sunglasses
texans jerseys
carolina panthers jersey
tennessee titans jersey
air max 90
ed hardy clothing
adidas nmd runner
miami heat
pittsburgh steelers jersey

8:16 pm  
Blogger raybanoutlet001 said...

christian louboutin shoes
jordan shoes
coach outlet
michael kors handbags
hugo boss suits
pandora outlet
coach factory outlet
louboutin shoes
polo ralph lauren
ugg boots
2017.7.6

9:01 pm  
Blogger منصتك الاخبارية said...


http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/eliminate-bugs-6.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/eliminate-bugs-5.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/eliminate-bugs-3.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/eliminate-bugs-2.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/eliminate-bugs.html
http://www.prokr.net/2016/09/eliminate-
bugs-12.html


12:03 pm  

Post a Comment

<< Home