Notes and Links to Priscilla Gilman’s Work

For Episode 226, Pete welcomes Priscilla Gilman, and the two discuss, among other topics, her famous and accomplished parents, and the perks and drawbacks that came with running in circles with dynamic writers and creatives, her voracious appetite for art and media and books, formational and informative works of art, books and not, her father’s wonderful work, belief in the sanctity of childhood, grief and its manifestations, the ways in which her relationships were nurturing and not, and how she managed to write lovingly and honestly about such a towering and beloved figure.

Priscilla Gilman is the author of the memoir, The Anti-Romantic Child, and a former professor of English literature at Yale University and Vassar College. The Anti-Romantic Child received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Booklist, was selected as one the Best Books of 2011 by the Leonard Lopate Show and The Chicago Tribune, and was one of five nominees for a Books for a Better Life Award for Best First Book. Gilman’s writing has appeared in the New York Times, O, the Oprah Magazine, and elsewhere. She lives in New York City.

Buy The Critic's Daughter: A Memoir

Priscilla's Wikipedia Page

WYNC Episode: "The Critic's Daughter' Explores the Marriage of Lynn Nesbit and Richard Gilman"

New York Times Review of The Critic’s Daughter

At about 2:00, Priscilla shouts out bookstores at which to buy her book and book events

At about 3:00, Pete and Priscilla fanboy and fangirl about Episode 42 guest Edoardo Ballerini

At about 5:00, Priscila talks about early reading, texts, and authors who “enraptured” her

At about 7:05, Priscilla and Pete talk about how her reading and writing life was shaped by her literary and artistic parents, Richard Gilman and Lynn Nesbit

At about 10:50, Priscilla responds to Pete’s questions about what it has been like to know some many literary and artistic giants on a personal level

At about 15:30, Priscilla speaks to early writing and reading and her path to academia and literature, including the wonderful role played by Brearley High School

At about 19:10, Priscilla references some of many contemporary writers like Sarah Watters, Ishiguro, Louise Erdrich, Strout, Leslie Jamison, Claire Keegan, Rachel Cusk, Lore Siegal, and Yaa Gaasi, who inspire and thrill her

At about 22:55, Pete and Priscilla discuss the book’s epigraphs and their significances

At about 28:10, The two geek out about Priscilla’s talented sister

At about 28:40, Pete wonders about

At about 32:20, Shaina Taub is shouted out, as Priscilla talks about a cool collaboration with her son and his high school drama

At about 33:05, Pete points out an interesting opening excerpt that compares and contrasts Priscilla’s father and the NYC oeuvre he lived in; Priscilla also discusses the book’s universality

At about 35:30, Priscilla discusses the old days of being able to live comfortably as an artist/critic and the book as a sort of lament for long-gone neighborhoods

At about 37:45, Priscilla compliments Joan Didion as a wonderful, “kind, thoughtful sweetheart and incredible genius”

At about 38:45, The two discuss ideas of public intellectuals and Wolff’s Old School

At about 40:20, Pete asks Priscilla about being true to her father and to herself in writing her book-the two refer to a memorable George Bernard Shaw quote

At about 44:15, Priscilla alludes to an often-quoted line from her book that speaks to ideas of “moving on” and grief

At about 45:10, The two further discuss Richard Gilman’s public life and fame

At about 48:00, Pete cites a disappointing workshop experience in connecting to a powerful and poignant story that Priscilla relates-her first memory-that is a microcosm of so much in her and her father’s lives

At about 50:40, The two discuss how Richard Gilman “believed in childhood”

At about 54:30, Pete references excerpts about Priscilla’s mindset after her parents’ separation and her father’s as well

At about 55:30, Priscilla reference her father’s vivaciousness and physical and mental frailties

At about 58:30, The two discuss some wonderful years late in Richard’s life with his wife Yasuko

At about 59:40, Priscilla underscores ideas of universality in her writing and beyond

At about 1:02:15, Priscilla talks about “tak[ing] the long view” and a wondrous and moving line about the grieving process and hope

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I am very excited that starting in February with Episode 220 with Neef Ekpoudom and Episode 222 with Andrew Leland, I will have one or two podcast episodes per month featured on the website of Chicago Review of Books. The audio will be posted, along with a written interview culled from the audio. A big thanks to Rachel León and Michael Welch at Chicago Review-I’m looking forward to the partnership!

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Please tune in for Episode 227 with Gina Chung, author of the novel SEA CHANGE, which was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, a 2023 B&N Discover Pick, and a New York Times Most Anticipated Book. The episode drops on March 12, Pub Day for her dynamic short story collection GREEN FROG.