Hiding Man_ A Biography Of Donald Barthelme Part 38

page 53 Lamar Lancer: Jerome Klinkowitz, Asa B. Pieratt, Jr., and Robert Murray Davis, Lamar Lancer: Jerome Klinkowitz, Asa B. Pieratt, Jr., and Robert Murray Davis, Donald Barthelme: A Comprehensive Bibliography Donald Barthelme: A Comprehensive Bibliography (Hamden, Connecticut: Shoestring Press/Archon Books, 1977), 101. (Hamden, Connecticut: Shoestring Press/Archon Books, 1977), 101.

page 54 "in his aerie": "in his aerie": Pat Goeters, in an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007. Pat Goeters, in an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007.

page 54 went to "black clubs"; "something about making a statement": went to "black clubs"; "something about making a statement": J. D. O'Hara, "Donald Barthelme: The Art of Fiction LXVI," J. D. O'Hara, "Donald Barthelme: The Art of Fiction LXVI," Paris Review Paris Review 80 (1981): 275276. 80 (1981): 275276.

page 54 "it was strictly an African-American establishment": "it was strictly an African-American establishment": Carter Roch.e.l.le, in an E-mail to the author, May 22, 2004. Carter Roch.e.l.le, in an E-mail to the author, May 22, 2004.

page 55 "Some say drums have no part of the melody": "Some say drums have no part of the melody": Sid Catlett quoted on Big Bands Database at Sid Catlett quoted on Big Bands Database at www.nfo.net.

page 56 "Whereas in the days when it was necessary to swing a band": "Whereas in the days when it was necessary to swing a band": Buddy Rich quoted in an excerpt from Buddy Rich quoted in an excerpt from Metronome Magazine Metronome Magazine, March/April 1956; interview conducted by Willis Conover for Voice of America Radio, copyright Shawn C. Martin; posted at www.drummerman.net/buddy.html.

page 56 a series of engagements in southeast Texas: a series of engagements in southeast Texas: Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 14. (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 14.

6. From Baudelaire to Rosenberg page 57 "If you imitate a writer's style, always choose the best": "If you imitate a writer's style, always choose the best": Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 52. (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 52.

page 57 He laments his "advanced age"; "I see the robbers": He laments his "advanced age"; "I see the robbers": Francois Rabelais, Francois Rabelais, Five Books of the Lives, Heroic Deeds, and Sayings of Gargantua and His Son Pantagruel Five Books of the Lives, Heroic Deeds, and Sayings of Gargantua and His Son Pantagruel, trans. Sir Thomas Urquhart and Peter Motteux (London: A. H. Bullen, 1904), 13, 15.

page 57 It traces a consistent artistic line rooted in romanticism: It traces a consistent artistic line rooted in romanticism: Marcel Raymond, Marcel Raymond, From Baudelaire to Surrealism From Baudelaire to Surrealism (New York: Wittenborn, Schultz, 1950), 67. (New York: Wittenborn, Schultz, 1950), 67.

pages 5758 "[T]he word with its vowels and diphthongs": "[T]he word with its vowels and diphthongs": ibid., 26. ibid., 26.

page 58 "Did you ever realize": "Did you ever realize": Donald Barthelme, Sr., quoted in Stephen Fox, "Donald Barthelme, 19171996," Donald Barthelme, Sr., quoted in Stephen Fox, "Donald Barthelme, 19171996," Cite Cite 35 (1996): 11. 35 (1996): 11.

page 58 Eventually, he designed a course called Concepts: Eventually, he designed a course called Concepts: ibid., 89. ibid., 89.

page 59 the one "important" nugget he'd gotten from Frank Lloyd Wright: the one "important" nugget he'd gotten from Frank Lloyd Wright: ibid., 9. ibid., 9.

page 59 "rip [everything] out": "rip [everything] out": ibid., 9. Barthelme had specified 9/16" gla.s.s, the minimum required for safety. To save money, the contractor used 1/2" gla.s.s. When Barthelme discovered this, he required the contractor to replace it with the gla.s.s that was specified for safety. ibid., 9. Barthelme had specified 9/16" gla.s.s, the minimum required for safety. To save money, the contractor used 1/2" gla.s.s. When Barthelme discovered this, he required the contractor to replace it with the gla.s.s that was specified for safety.

page 59 "been working on transforming an old armory": "been working on transforming an old armory": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Paradise Paradise (New York: Putnam, 1986), 34. (New York: Putnam, 1986), 34.

page 59 "I really quit practicing": "I really quit practicing": Donald Barthelme, Sr., quoted in Fox, "Donald Barthelme, 19171996," 11. Donald Barthelme, Sr., quoted in Fox, "Donald Barthelme, 19171996," 11.

page 59 " " forc[ing]...the gates of Paradise": forc[ing]...the gates of Paradise": Raymond, Raymond, From Baudelaire to Surrealism From Baudelaire to Surrealism, 8.

page 59 "[A] mysterious s.h.i.+ft": "[A] mysterious s.h.i.+ft": Donald Barthelme, "After Joyce," in Donald Barthelme, "After Joyce," in Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews, ed. Kim Herzinger (New York: Random House, 1997), 3.

page 60 "obscurity": "obscurity": Raymond, Raymond, From Baudelaire to Surrealism From Baudelaire to Surrealism, 8.

page 60 "However much the writer": "However much the writer": Donald Barthelme, "Not-Knowing," in Donald Barthelme, "Not-Knowing," in Not-Knowing Not-Knowing, ed. Herzinger, 15.

page 60 "whisper...close to silence": "whisper...close to silence": ibid., 16. ibid., 16.

page 60 In the end, Raymond admitted: In the end, Raymond admitted: Raymond, Raymond, From Baudelaire to Surrealism From Baudelaire to Surrealism, 39.

page 60 "[S]ince romanticism": "[S]ince romanticism": ibid., 355356. ibid., 355356.

pages 6061 "The best French poetry since Baudelaire" "The best French poetry since Baudelaire" to to "the acid of poetry": "the acid of poetry": Harold Rosenberg, in the introduction to Raymond, Harold Rosenberg, in the introduction to Raymond, From Baudelaire to Surrealism From Baudelaire to Surrealism, not paginated.

7. Bardley page 62 "It was a bright shy white new university": "It was a bright shy white new university": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Sixty Stories Sixty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1981), 101. (New York: Putnam, 1981), 101.

page 63 Don attracted people "like a magnet": Don attracted people "like a magnet": Joe Maranto quoted in Helen Moore Barthelme, Joe Maranto quoted in Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 5. (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 5.

page 63 his "striding, almost jaunty walk"; "handsome girl": his "striding, almost jaunty walk"; "handsome girl": Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme, 3.

page 64 "would quote Dorothy Parker": "would quote Dorothy Parker": Maranto quoted in ibid., 5. Maranto quoted in ibid., 5.

page 64 a course of study in creative writing: a course of study in creative writing: For the history of creative writing, I have drawn upon D. G. Myers, For the history of creative writing, I have drawn upon D. G. Myers, The Elephants Teach: Creative Writing Since 1880 The Elephants Teach: Creative Writing Since 1880 (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1996), 31, 6667, 123128. (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1996), 31, 6667, 123128.

page 64 "we study literature today": "we study literature today": Allen Tate quoted in Myers, Allen Tate quoted in Myers, The Elephants Teach The Elephants Teach, 127.

page 65 "irony, humility, introspection, reverence": "irony, humility, introspection, reverence": Allen Tate, Allen Tate, The Poetry Reviews of Allen Tate The Poetry Reviews of Allen Tate, ed. Ashley Brown and Frances Cheney (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1983), 107.

page 65 "by selecting fathers": "by selecting fathers": "Interview with Charles Ruas and Judith Sherman, 1975," in "Interview with Charles Ruas and Judith Sherman, 1975," in Not-Knowing Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews The Essays and Interviews, ed. Kim Herzinger (New York: Random House, 1997), 211.

page 66 "Poetry wants to be pure": "Poetry wants to be pure": Robert Penn Warren, "Pure and Impure Poetry," cited in Robert Penn Warren, "Pure and Impure Poetry," cited in The New Criticism and Contemporary Literary Theory The New Criticism and Contemporary Literary Theory, ed. William I. Spurlin and Michael Fischer (New York: Garland Press, 1995), 21.

page 66 "If any one person is to be singled out": "If any one person is to be singled out": Lee Pryor quoted in Suzanne Shumway, Lee Pryor quoted in Suzanne Shumway, University of Houston Magazine University of Houston Magazine (winter 1992); posted at (winter 1992); posted at www.uh.edu/collegium/fall97.

page 66 "[Because] Hemingway had been a newspaperman": "[Because] Hemingway had been a newspaperman": "Interview with Charles Ruas and Judith Sherman, 1975," in "Interview with Charles Ruas and Judith Sherman, 1975," in Not-Knowing Not-Knowing, ed. Herzinger, 211.

page 66 "Tiger in the Garden [was] once regarded as the cream": "Tiger in the Garden [was] once regarded as the cream": Paul West, Paul West, Master Cla.s.s: Scenes from a Fiction Workshop Master Cla.s.s: Scenes from a Fiction Workshop (New York: Harcourt, 2001), 150. (New York: Harcourt, 2001), 150.

page 66 "as emotion-charged as a telephone's dial tone": "as emotion-charged as a telephone's dial tone": Robert Murray Davis, "Donald Barthelme in Houston," Robert Murray Davis, "Donald Barthelme in Houston," The Houston Review: History and Culture of the Gulf Coast The Houston Review: History and Culture of the Gulf Coast 2 (1980): 97. 2 (1980): 97.

page 67 Don's Don's Cougar Cougar columns: columns: For details and certain excerpts from Donald Barthelme's For details and certain excerpts from Donald Barthelme's Cougar Cougar writings, I have drawn upon Jerome Klinkowitz, Asa B. Pieratt, Jr., and Robert Murray Davis, writings, I have drawn upon Jerome Klinkowitz, Asa B. Pieratt, Jr., and Robert Murray Davis, Donald Barthelme: A Comprehensive Bibliography Donald Barthelme: A Comprehensive Bibliography (Hamden, Connecticut: Shoestring Press/Archon Books, 1977). (Hamden, Connecticut: Shoestring Press/Archon Books, 1977).

page 67 "created [a] homely": "created [a] homely": Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, February 15, 2005. Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, February 15, 2005.

page 67 "Yes, I'll take credit": "Yes, I'll take credit": Pat Goeters, in an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007. Pat Goeters, in an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007.

page 68 Years later, he was appalled at himself: Years later, he was appalled at himself: Jerome Klinkowitz, Jerome Klinkowitz, Keeping Literary Company: Working with Writers Since the Sixties Keeping Literary Company: Working with Writers Since the Sixties (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1998), 125126. (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1998), 125126.

page 68 "Jane was one of the younger wicked old witches": "Jane was one of the younger wicked old witches": Donald Barthelme, "Grimm Revisited," Donald Barthelme, "Grimm Revisited," Daily Cougar Daily Cougar (University of Houston), July 13, 1951, 2. (University of Houston), July 13, 1951, 2.

page 68 "I originally began writing": The Writer in Society: Donald Barthelme "I originally began writing": The Writer in Society: Donald Barthelme (Houston: KUHT-TV, 1984). (Houston: KUHT-TV, 1984).

page 69 "think of religion": "think of religion": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Forty Stories Forty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1987), 248. (New York: Putnam, 1987), 248.

page 69 "[Barthelme], a 20-year-old soph.o.m.ore journalism major": "[Barthelme], a 20-year-old soph.o.m.ore journalism major": Klinkowitz, Pieratt, and Davis, Klinkowitz, Pieratt, and Davis, Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme, 101.

page 69 "Don seemed so young": "Don seemed so young": Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme, 3, 18.

8. Let's Take a Walk page 72 "[A]s a raw youth": "[A]s a raw youth": Donald Barthelme, "Return," in Donald Barthelme, "Return," in Liquid City: Houston Writers on Houston Liquid City: Houston Writers on Houston, ed. Rita Saylors (San Antonio: Corona Publis.h.i.+ng Company, 1987), 3839.

page 72 "Well, thank you, sir": "Well, thank you, sir": Gerald Langford, Gerald Langford, Alias O. Henry: A Biography of William Sidney Porter Alias O. Henry: A Biography of William Sidney Porter (New York: Macmillan, 1957), 9596. For a nearly complete collection of Porter's writing for the (New York: Macmillan, 1957), 9596. For a nearly complete collection of Porter's writing for the Houston Post Houston Post, see O. Henry, Postscripts Postscripts (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1923). (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1923).

page 72 "Thank you," Kennedy says: "Thank you," Kennedy says: Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Sixty Stories Sixty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1981), 85. (New York: Putnam, 1981), 85.

page 73 "[N]ewspaper work didn't teach me all that much about writing": "[N]ewspaper work didn't teach me all that much about writing": "Interview with Charles Ruas and Judith Sherman, 1975," in "Interview with Charles Ruas and Judith Sherman, 1975," in Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews, ed. Kim Herzinger (New York: Random House, 1997), 211.

page 73 "I worked for newspapers at a time when I was not competent to do so": "I worked for newspapers at a time when I was not competent to do so": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, City Life City Life (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1970), 138. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1970), 138.

page 73 "I used to be in the government service": "I used to be in the government service": Fyodor Dostoevsky, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground Notes from Underground, in Three Short Novels of Dostoevsky Three Short Novels of Dostoevsky, trans. Constance Garnett (Garden City, New York: Doubleday Anchor, 1960), 179181.

page 73 "George is editing my copy"; Don "always wanted to write tight, short sentences": "George is editing my copy"; Don "always wanted to write tight, short sentences": Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 19. (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 19.

page 73 "The newspaper building was populated with terrifying city editors": "The newspaper building was populated with terrifying city editors": Barthelme, in Barthelme, in Liquid City Liquid City, ed. Saylors, 38.

page 74 Don imagines a chamber orchestra: Don imagines a chamber orchestra: Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Overnight to Many Distant Cities Overnight to Many Distant Cities (New York: Putnam, 1983), 25. (New York: Putnam, 1983), 25.

page 74 "We crouch in empty cups": "We crouch in empty cups": Barthelme quoted in Helen Moore Barthelme, Barthelme quoted in Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme, 6.

page 74 "horses are considered valuable": "horses are considered valuable": This and subsequent quotes from "Eros in Archer County" are from Larry McMurtry, This and subsequent quotes from "Eros in Archer County" are from Larry McMurtry, In a Narrow Grave: Essays on Texas In a Narrow Grave: Essays on Texas (New York: Touchstone Books, 1968), 5574. (New York: Touchstone Books, 1968), 5574.

page 75 "His demeanor, especially with women": "His demeanor, especially with women": Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme, 1617.

page 75 "If you were a female person": "If you were a female person": Grace Paley, "Some Nearly Personal Notes," in Grace Paley, "Some Nearly Personal Notes," in Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Art Gulf Coast: A Journal of Literature and Art 4, no. 1 (1991): 161. 4, no. 1 (1991): 161.

page 75 "going with"; "going with"; " " Poor Don": Poor Don": Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, June 18, 2004. Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, June 18, 2004.

page 75 she should "take a walk": she should "take a walk": Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme, 16.

page 76 "Miss Maggie was a s.e.xy creature": "Miss Maggie was a s.e.xy creature": Herman Gollob, Herman Gollob, Me and Shakespeare: Adventures with the Bard Me and Shakespeare: Adventures with the Bard (New York: Doubleday, 2002), 167. (New York: Doubleday, 2002), 167.

page 76 Don had an argument with his father: Don had an argument with his father: Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme, 20. pages 7677 pages 7677 "custard affair" "custard affair" to to "Don was a man's man": "Don was a man's man": Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, June 18, 2004. Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, June 18, 2004.

9. Feverish page 78 "One or more of them would drop by our apartment": "One or more of them would drop by our apartment": Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, April 20, 2004. Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, April 20, 2004.

page 79 Goeters was "eccentric and individualistic": Goeters was "eccentric and individualistic": Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, April 20, 2004. Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, April 20, 2004.

page 79 "one needed a decoder ring to read and understand" "one needed a decoder ring to read and understand" to to "I shared with him": "I shared with him": Pat Goeters, "Pulitzer Parable," an unpublished essay, in an E-mail to the author, April 22, 2004. Pat Goeters, "Pulitzer Parable," an unpublished essay, in an E-mail to the author, April 22, 2004.

page 79 " " They weren't getting married in a church": They weren't getting married in a church": Pat Goeters, in an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007. Pat Goeters, in an E-mail to the author, July 8, 2007.

page 80 "Joe and I were not impressed with her": "Joe and I were not impressed with her": Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, April 20, 2004. Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, April 20, 2004.

page 80 "When I'd go out with my Rice friends"; "At the time, very few people": "When I'd go out with my Rice friends"; "At the time, very few people": Marilyn Gillet, in a conversation with the author, November 17, 2004. Marilyn Gillet, in a conversation with the author, November 17, 2004.

page 80 "We didn't see much": "We didn't see much": Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, April 20, 2004. Maggie Maranto, in an E-mail to the author, April 20, 2004.

page 80 "hear[ing] about Don occasionally": "hear[ing] about Don occasionally": Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 22. (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 22.

page 81 "[Hubert] Roussel went to all of the interesting shows": "[Hubert] Roussel went to all of the interesting shows": Marilyn Gillet, in a conversation with the author, November 17, 2004. Marilyn Gillet, in a conversation with the author, November 17, 2004.

page 81 "Disney's h.o.r.n.i.e.s.t animated feature": "Disney's h.o.r.n.i.e.s.t animated feature": See Jeremy Heilman at See Jeremy Heilman at www.moviemartyr.com.

page 82 his "nastiness": his "nastiness": Jerome Klinkowitz, Asa B. Pieratt, Jr., and Robert Murray Davis, Jerome Klinkowitz, Asa B. Pieratt, Jr., and Robert Murray Davis, Donald Barthelme: A Comprehensive Bibliography Donald Barthelme: A Comprehensive Bibliography (Hamden, Connecticut: Shoestring Press/Archon Books, 1977), 88.

page 82 "I am persuaded that Surrealism first existed in the cinema": "I am persuaded that Surrealism first existed in the cinema": Langlois quoted in Colin MacCabe, Langlois quoted in Colin MacCabe, G.o.dard: A Portrait of the Artist at Seventy G.o.dard: A Portrait of the Artist at Seventy (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003), 48. For background information on (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003), 48. For background information on Cahiers du Cinema Cahiers du Cinema, I have drawn upon MacCabe's book.

page 84 "packed with color, spectacle, and glamour"; "cracks the fraternity-sorority question wide open": "packed with color, spectacle, and glamour"; "cracks the fraternity-sorority question wide open": Robert Murray Davis, "Donald Barthelme in Houston," Robert Murray Davis, "Donald Barthelme in Houston," The Houston Review: History and Culture of the Gulf Coast The Houston Review: History and Culture of the Gulf Coast 2 (1980): 99. 2 (1980): 99.

page 84 "a deeply disturbing novel of the South": "a deeply disturbing novel of the South": This and subsequent quotes from This and subsequent quotes from Amanda Feverish Amanda Feverish are from Davis, "Donald Barthelme in Houston," 98. are from Davis, "Donald Barthelme in Houston," 98.

page 85 "Less than three months after": "Less than three months after": Davis, "Donald Barthelme in Houston," 98. Davis, "Donald Barthelme in Houston," 98.

10. Basic Training page 89 Don was a.s.signed to Company M: Don was a.s.signed to Company M: Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 22. (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 22.

page 89 Camp Polk: Camp Polk: For information on Camp Polk, see "Louisiana Maneuver Camps and Bases" at For information on Camp Polk, see "Louisiana Maneuver Camps and Bases" at www.crt.state.la.us/tourism/lawwii/Maneuvers/Robertson/Camps.htm. E. J. Kahn, The Army Life The Army Life (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1942) provided a useful source of general information on basic training. (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1942) provided a useful source of general information on basic training.

page 91 "a lieutenant [or] some other higher animal": "a lieutenant [or] some other higher animal": Donald Barthelme quoted in Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme quoted in Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme, 22.

page 91 "In the number of books circulated": "In the number of books circulated": Edward Frank Allen, with Raymond B. Fosd.i.c.k, Edward Frank Allen, with Raymond B. Fosd.i.c.k, Keeping Our Fighters Fit for War and After Keeping Our Fighters Fit for War and After (New York: The Century Company, 1918), 90. (New York: The Century Company, 1918), 90.

page 92 the certainty that he'd have to do it all again: the certainty that he'd have to do it all again: Intermittently, for the rest of his life, Don suffered nightmares about having to return to the army, a trauma he wrote about in "The Sergeant." Just as the army never seemed to end for him, "The Sergeant" resisted closure. In the story's first appearance, in Intermittently, for the rest of his life, Don suffered nightmares about having to return to the army, a trauma he wrote about in "The Sergeant." Just as the army never seemed to end for him, "The Sergeant" resisted closure. In the story's first appearance, in Fiction Fiction magazine, the recycled recruit refuses a command to "harm" a civilian with his M16. As punishment, he is ordered to stuff onions into olives for a martiniguzzling general. Anguished, he cries, "Father!" A shout for help? A curse? A prayer? A year later, when the story resurfaced in magazine, the recycled recruit refuses a command to "harm" a civilian with his M16. As punishment, he is ordered to stuff onions into olives for a martiniguzzling general. Anguished, he cries, "Father!" A shout for help? A curse? A prayer? A year later, when the story resurfaced in Amateurs Amateurs, Don had changed the sergeant's cry to "Andromache!" The reference is to Euripides' play and to the aftermath of the Trojan War. The play ends with an explicit statement of Don's theme: "Many a thing...[comes] to pa.s.s contrary to our expectations," the chorus intones. "[That] which we thought would be is not accomplished."

The epitome of a faithful wife, Andromache appears briefly in the Iliad Iliad, holding her baby, crying for her husband, Hector, as he stomps off to battle. Eventually, Achilles slays Hector and the baby is killed. Andromache, carted to Sparta, becomes a concubine of Achilles' son. She endures indignities and threats, and is the only self-controlled person in a society rent by jealousies, suspicions, and a hunger for war.

Like Euripides' play, Don's story, written in the 1970s, as U.S. involvement in Vietnam staggered to its sloppy end, depicts a corrupt, confused, and bloated authoritarian system. As the Greek chorus chants, "Better it is not to win a discreditable victory, than to make justice miscarry by an invidious exercise of power...." Many Americans saw Vietnam as a repeat of the Korean mistake ("Look, I've already done this"). In the mid-seventies, readers of "The Sergeant," forced to contemplate harming a civilian, would naturally be reminded of the My Lai ma.s.sacre. The sergeant's plea to Andromache serves as a bond with her suffering as well as a confession that he has fallen short of her dignity.

What has he done to call such trouble on himself ("Of course it's what I deserve," he says)? The story doesn't spell things out, but if Andromache is a model of fidelity, we can a.s.sume the opposite of the sergeant (just as he reverses her image in losing his dignity). "O marriage, marriage, woe to thee! thou bane of my home, thou destroyer of my city!" the warrior Peleus shouts in the middle of Euripides' play, lamenting the intimate duplicities, reflected in public power, that have ruined his culture. By the time Don wrote the story, he was thrice divorced. His second wife-from whom his split had been especially painful-was named Helen. On one level, the cry of "Andromache!" is an in joke, for in the play, Andromache blames Helen of Troy for the war that wrecked her family. In her final years, she marries a man named Helenus, and finds happiness. (Helen Moore Barthelme recalls that "Don's friends gave us as a wedding gift a painted golden apple along with a poem alluding to the mythological tale of the winning of Helen of Troy by Paris of Greece.") Don's separation from Marilyn Marrs during his Korean sojourn certainly hastened the end of his first marriage, a marriage his bond with Helen was supposed to erase. In any case, "Andromache!" makes clear his conviction that, in private as well as in public, "discreditable" behavior leads to a "stain on a house."

But Don wasn't yet done with "The Sergeant." In its third appearance, in Sixty Stories Sixty Stories in 1981, he changed the story's final plea to "Penelope!" Penelope is another model wife. She is better known to most readers than Andromache-a possible reason for the change. She is also a less woeful figure, celebrated for her strength, cunning, and guile, qualities that make her example a greater rebuke to the sergeant (who is a wanderer like Odysseus, like Leopold Bloom) and a more poignant target for his longing. The loss of Andromache softens the story's social critique-less a sign of mellowing on Don's part than recognition that, as Vietnam fell further into the past, the story's power lay more in its portrait of individual psychology. in 1981, he changed the story's final plea to "Penelope!" Penelope is another model wife. She is better known to most readers than Andromache-a possible reason for the change. She is also a less woeful figure, celebrated for her strength, cunning, and guile, qualities that make her example a greater rebuke to the sergeant (who is a wanderer like Odysseus, like Leopold Bloom) and a more poignant target for his longing. The loss of Andromache softens the story's social critique-less a sign of mellowing on Don's part than recognition that, as Vietnam fell further into the past, the story's power lay more in its portrait of individual psychology.

For the various versions of the ending of "The Sergeant," see Fiction Fiction 3, nos. 23 (1975): 25; Donald Barthelme, 3, nos. 23 (1975): 25; Donald Barthelme, Amateurs Amateurs (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1976), 77; and Donald Barthelme, (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1976), 77; and Donald Barthelme, Sixty Stories Sixty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1981), 308. All quotes from (New York: Putnam, 1981), 308. All quotes from Andromache Andromache are taken from Euripides, are taken from Euripides, Andromache Andromache, trans. E. P. Coleridge, posted at www.cla.s.sics.mit.edu/Euripides/Andromache.

page 92 Fort Lewis: Fort Lewis: For information on Fort Lewis, see "I Corps and Fort Lewis" at For information on Fort Lewis, see "I Corps and Fort Lewis" at www.lewis.army.mil/CampLewis.shtml.

page 93 "You could write for a week": "You could write for a week": Ernest Hemingway, "Voyage to Victory," in Ernest Hemingway, "Voyage to Victory," in Hemingway on War Hemingway on War, ed. Sean Hemingway (New York: Scribner's, 2003), 326.

11. The Thirty-eighth Parallel page 94 "I've crossed...the Pacific twice": "I've crossed...the Pacific twice": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Paradise Paradise (New York: Putnam, 1986), 151. (New York: Putnam, 1986), 151.

page 94 "[I sailed] over the pearly Pacific": "[I sailed] over the pearly Pacific": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Sixty Stories Sixty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1981), 102. (New York: Putnam, 1981), 102.

page 94 "grimy hills of Korea": "grimy hills of Korea": Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 23. (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 23.

page 95 "Walking down the road wearing green clothes": "Walking down the road wearing green clothes": Barthelme, Barthelme, Sixty Stories Sixty Stories, 101.

page 95 it's a "sour" feeling: it's a "sour" feeling: James Brady, James Brady, The Coldest War: A Memoir of Korea The Coldest War: A Memoir of Korea (New York: Orion Books, 1990), 1. (New York: Orion Books, 1990), 1.

page 95 "waving Korean, American, and United Nations flags": "waving Korean, American, and United Nations flags": W. H. Lawrence quoted in Lloyd C. Gardner, ed., W. H. Lawrence quoted in Lloyd C. Gardner, ed., The Korean War The Korean War (New York: Quadrangle Books, 1972), 100101. (New York: Quadrangle Books, 1972), 100101.

page 95 "At 10:00 p.m. on 27 July [1953]": "At 10:00 p.m. on 27 July [1953]": Callum A. Macdonald, Callum A. Macdonald, Korea: The War Before Vietnam Korea: The War Before Vietnam (New York: The Free Press, 1986), 249. (New York: The Free Press, 1986), 249.

page 96 making reveille in "an offhand way": making reveille in "an offhand way": Helen Moore Barthelme Helen Moore Barthelme Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme, 23.

page 96 "not, of course, deliriously happy": "not, of course, deliriously happy": This and subsequent quotes from Don's letters home to Joe Maranto and to his family are from Helen Moore Barthelme, This and subsequent quotes from Don's letters home to Joe Maranto and to his family are from Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme, 2234.