San Antonio College Library

The works of William Styron reflect a central theme, best identified in his book dealing with the Holocaust "Sophie's Choice." He propounds a theory of individual development based on egoism, which leads one to attempt to remold men and events to one's will, losing moral scruples in the process. Antisemitism, Southern racism, and anti-feminism can all be explained by this theory.

This volume takes readers on an American journey from FDR to George W. Bush through the trenchant observations of one of the country's greatest writers. Not only will readers take pleasure in William Styron's correspondence with and commentary about the people and events that made the past century such a momentous and transformative time, they will also share the writer's private meditations on the very art of writing.

Presents twenty-five interviews with the novelist from 1951-1984.

Discusses the life and literary works of William Styron.

The author describes his experiences with depression and his resulting suicidal tendencies beginning in 1985.

"Including significant previously uncollected material, My Generation is the definitive gathering of the fruits of this beloved writer's five decades of public life. Here is the William Styron unafraid to peer into the darkest corners of the 20th century or to take on the complex racial legacy of the United States. But here too is Styron writing about his daily walk with his dog, musing on the Modern Library's "100 Greatest Books," and offering personal...