Walter Abish | Granta

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.

Walter Abish on Granta.com

Fiction | The Online Edition padlock
Fiction | The Online Edition padlock

Furniture of Desire

Walter Abish

‘It took him only a moment to eliminate all doubt. The opportunity was ripe.’

Essays & Memoir | Issue 4 padlock
Essays & Memoir | Issue 4 padlock

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?’

Fiction | Issue 2 padlock
Fiction | Issue 2 padlock

Sweet Truth

Walter Abish

‘I believe in the harmony of my friendship to Gisela rather than in the binding force that the institution of marriage is said to represent.’

Granta magazine is run by the Granta Trust (charity number 1184638)

The copyright to all contents of this site is held either by Granta or by the individual authors, and none of the material may be used elsewhere without written permission. For reprint enquiries, contact us.

  • Granta
  • 12 Addison Avenue
  • London W11 4QR
  • United Kingdom
  • Tel +44(0)20 7605 1360