2006.12.01: December 1, 2006: Headlines: Figures: Writers: COS - Ethiopia: Literature: Expatriate Writers: Lost Generation: The Writer’s Chronicle: Peace Corps Writers and the Lost Generation: An exchange between John Coyne and Sybil Baker

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Ethiopia: Special Report: Ethiopia RPCV and Author/Editor John Coyne: 2006.10.20: October 20, 2006: Headlines: Figures: Writers: COS - Ethiopia: Italy: Peace Corps Writers: John Coyne writes: The First "Peace Corps Book" : 2006.12.01: December 1, 2006: Headlines: Figures: Writers: COS - Ethiopia: Literature: Expatriate Writers: Lost Generation: The Writer’s Chronicle: Peace Corps Writers and the Lost Generation: An exchange between John Coyne and Sybil Baker

By Admin1 (admin) (ppp-70-129-41-31.dsl.okcyok.swbell.net - 70.129.41.31) on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 11:34 am: Edit Post

Peace Corps Writers and the Lost Generation: An exchange between John Coyne and Sybil Baker

Peace Corps Writers and the Lost Generation:  An exchange between John Coyne and Sybil Baker

"Anyone who has read Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, e. e. cummings, Malcolm Cowley, or John Dos Passos can see how they used the experience of living in France, England, and Spain as subject matter. In much the same way, while writing about the developing world and emerging democracies, Peace Corps writers have broadened the landscape of American readers by introducing new countries and new ideas about other cultures and societies, much the same way that the writers and artists in Paris in the 1920s broadened the view of the world for Americans back home." John Coyne, editor of the "Peace Corps Writers" web site, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia in the 1960's.

Peace Corps Writers and the Lost Generation: An exchange between John Coyne and Sybil Baker

Writing and the Peace Corps Experience

Letter written to Sybil Baker, author of “Lost Generation: The American Expatriate Writer,” the Writer’s Chronicle, Volume 39, Number 1)

I read your long and interesting article on Expatriate Writers (“Lost Generation: The American Expatriate Writer,” the Writer’s Chronicle, Volume 39, Number 1) and was struck by the fact that you did not mention any of the writers who came out of the Peace Corps experience and are using those experiences as a source of their prose and poetry. Peace Corps writers have built an important literary library writing about their overseas experiences.

Here is a short list of writers who produced works that came out of their Peace Corps service: Bob Schacochis, winner of the American Book Award in 1985; Richard Wiley, winner of the Pen/Faulkner Award in 1986; Kathleen Coskran, winner of the Minnesota Voices Prize in 1987; Shay Youngblood, winner of both the Pushcart Prize for fiction and a Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award; Melanie Sumner, winner of the Whiting Award in 1995; Marnie Mueller, winner of the 1995 American Book Award; Norm Rush, winner of the National Book Award in 1991; Ann Neelon, winner of the Anhinga Prize for Poetry in 1995; Mark Brazaitis, winner of the 1998 Iowa Short Fiction Award; Peter Chilson, winner of the 1999 Associated Writing Program; Kent Haruf, author of Plainsong (1999); …

Anyone who has read Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, e. e. cummings, Malcolm Cowley, or John Dos Passos can see how they used the experience of living in France, England, and Spain as subject matter. In much the same way, while writing about the developing world and emerging democracies, Peace Corps writers have broadened the landscape of American readers by introducing new countries and new ideas about other cultures and societies, much the same way that the writers and artists in Paris in the 1920s broadened the view of the world for Americans back home.

Finally let me come back to Gertrude Stein’s famous comment to Hemingway. “You are all a lost generation,” that you used in your essay. The truth story is that Stein had heard her French garage owner speak of his young auto mechanics and their poor repair skills as “une génération perdue.”

All Gertrude Stein wanted was competent mechanics to repair her car but Hemingway, seizing the expression, as any good writer would, identified a literary movement and a new way of looking at the world. Peace Corps writers have done the same. I wish that you hadn’t overlooked all these successful writers for a handful of current writers who are taking or took writing courses in Prague but have yet to produce prose or poetry of much value, while Peace Corps writers, living at the edge of the world, have done just that for 45 years!

John Coyne
Pelham Manor, New York



(Sybil Baker’s Response)

Thank you for your thoughtful letter related to my essay on American expatriate writers. I appreciate the time you spent responding and learned a lot from your letter concerning the significance of the Peace Corps in contemporary American literature.

In my essay I wanted to focus on (1) giving a historical overview of the significance of the expatriate life and literature on twentieth century American literature and (2) works that specifically discussed the life of the expatriate. As you mentioned, Freudenburger and Henley do not necessarily fall into the first category, but I wanted to include them to look at women writers specifically.

I agree that it would have been worthwhile to add a paragraph about the Peace Corps, even though that was not the focus of the essay. From what I know, the Peace Corps volunteers’ primary purpose for living abroad was different than someone who moves abroad for their art, and their time abroad was fixed. It seems that people who join the Peace Corps do so primarily to experience worlds far removed from our first world existence, and also to share and help others. The artistic outcomes of that experience might then be secondary reasons for joining the Peace Corps. Or some volunteer might have had no intention to write a book at all, but felt compelled to do so after their Peace Corps experience abroad.

However, because Peace Corps writers have “built an important literary library,” I believe that a few sentences about them in my essay would not have done them justice.

I think literature from the Peace Corps would make an excellent and necessary essay on its own, and I hope that you will write it, as you seem to be very knowledgeable about the subject. I also would love to see an anthology of writing from former Peace Corps volunteers. I think this would be a great way to promote the Peace Corps as well as highlight its significance in our society and in the arts. …

Sybil Baker
Seoul, S. Korea



(John Coyne writes back)

Thanks for writing. I understand where you are coming from, and I appreciate your thoughts and your approach to ex-pats. Of course, Hemingway went to Paris as a foreign correspondent, as you know, and ended up writing novels! I believe the many of the other writers simply went to “live” overseas.

Check out our site:www.peacecorpswriters.org. We have been following Peace Corps writers since 1987 or so. They keep coming!

John Coyne





When this story was posted in October 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:


Contact PCOLBulletin BoardRegisterSearch PCOLWhat's New?

Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps Date: September 23 2006 No: 996 Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps
Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

Top Stories and Breaking News PCOL Magazine Peace Corps Library RPCV Directory Sign Up

The Peace Corps Library Date: July 11 2006 No: 923 The Peace Corps Library
The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory or leave a message on our Bulletin Board. New: Sign up to receive our free Monthly Magazine by email, research the History of the Peace Corps, or sign up for a daily news summary of Peace Corps stories. FAQ: Visit our FAQ for more information about PCOL.

He served with honor Date: September 12 2006 No: 983 He served with honor
One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

September 12, 2006: This Month's Top Stories Date: September 12 2006 No: 984 September 12, 2006: This Month's Top Stories
John Coyne writes: The Lion in the Garden 12 Sep
John McCain says: We passed up an opportunity after 911 12 Sep
Jody Olsen speaks at Headquarters about 911 11 Sep
Bill Moyers Returns to Investigative Reporting 8 Sep
Boating Accident kills two PCVs in Mali 7 Sep
Director Vasquez bids Farewell to Washington 7 Sep
James Rupert writes: Pact reached with pro-Taliban forces 6 Sep
Carol Bellamy to speak at Global Risk Conference 5 Sep
New trial ordered for Jerry Mark in murder case 2 Sep
Ken Hill to step down as NPCA Chairman 1 Sep
Clintons, Gearans dine at resort 1 Sep
'Chris Matthews' Turns 5 31 Aug
Taylor Hackford thinks Chuck Berry is a pain in the ass 31 Aug
John Kefalas alleges dirty tactics in house race 30 Aug
DRI receives Charity Navigator's highest ratings 29 Aug
Kris Holloway writes "Monique and the Mango Rains'' 28 Aug
Richard Celeste writes: Watch Out For Voting Day Bugs 28 Aug
Donna Shalala boosted UM's image 27 Aug
Leonard Robinson devoted his life to the underserved 24 Aug
Phil Hardberger will run for re-election in 2007 24 Aug
Snakes on the Plain - the black mamba 23 Aug
Eunice Kennedy Shriver still going strong 20 Aug

Meet Ron Tschetter - Our Next Director Date: September 6 2006 No: 978 Meet Ron Tschetter - Our Next Director
Read our story about Ron Tschetter's confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that was carried on C-Span. It was very different from the Vasquez hearings in 2001, very cut and dried with low attendance by the public. Among the highlights, Tschetter intends to make recruitment of baby boomers a priority, there are 20 countries under consideration for future programs, Senator Dodd intends to re-introduce his third goal Peace Corps legislation this session, Tschetter is a great admirer of Senator Coleman's quest for accountability, Dodd thinks management at PC may not put volunteers first, Dodd wants Tschetter to look into problems in medical selection, and Tschetter is not a blogger and knows little about the internet or guidelines for volunteer blogs. Read our recap of the hearings as well as Senator Coleman's statement and Tschetter's statement.

Chris Shays Shifts to Favor an Iraq Timetable Date: September 2 2006 No: 971 Chris Shays Shifts to Favor an Iraq Timetable
In a policy shift, RPCV Congressman Chris Shays, long a staunch advocate of the Bush administration's position in Iraq, is now proposing a timetable for a withdrawal of American troops. How Mr. Shays came to this change of heart is, he says, a matter of a newfound substantive belief that Iraqis need to be prodded into taking greater control of their own destiny under the country’s newly formed government. As Chairman of the House Government Reform subcommittee on national security, he plans to draft a timetable for a phased withdrawal and then push for its adoption. A conscientious objector during the Vietnam War who said that if drafted he would not serve, Chris Shays has made 14 trips to Iraq and was the first Congressman to enter the country after the war - against the wishes of the Department of Defense.

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance Date: August 19 2006 No: 964 Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance
The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again Date: July 31 2006 No: 947 The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again
The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

Support the US-Peruvian Trade Pact Date: July 20 2006 No: 930 Support the US-Peruvian Trade Pact
Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, the Peace Corps President, has been lobbying both Democratic and Republican legislators to support the US-Peruvian trade pact before July 28, when his term ends and a US congressional recess begins. If President Bush fails to get approval before Congress goes on recess, it will be a case study proving that the United States does not reward its friends. Please call your representatives.

PCOL readership increases 100% Date: April 3 2006 No: 853 PCOL readership increases 100%
Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

History of the Peace Corps Date: March 18 2006 No: 834 History of the Peace Corps
PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.


Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: The Writer’s Chronicle

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; Writers; COS - Ethiopia; Literature; Expatriate Writers; Lost Generation

PCOL34958
43


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: