But Why Write? The Writer-To-Be | Walter Abish | Granta Magazine

But Why Write? The Writer-To-Be

Walter Abish

‘How to explain this resolve to write, this firm unwavering intent to become a writer on the part of someone who may not even really care for books?’

Walter Abish

Walter Abish was born in Vienna in 1931, moving to America in 1957. Since 1970, he has published six books, including Alphabetical Africa (1974) and How German Is It? (1980) which won the PEN/Faulkner Award in 1981 (both books are published by New Directions). Abish then served on the board of International PEN from 1982-1988, and currently serves as a fellow for American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His most recent work, a memoir entitled Double Vision: A Self Portrait, was published in 2004.

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