William Gaddis’ Education-Writing and His Fiction: A Fuller Archival History

Abstract

The little use that critics of William Gaddis’ fiction have previously made of his corporate writing career has concerned a very limited portion of its history: the fact that his cancelled book on classroom TV for the Ford Foundation contributed material to J R’s school-centric plot. Gaddis’ own dismissive retrospective account of the interest and significance of his corporate work has constrained critical investigation. The archive, though, reveals a close, sustained relationship between his corporate work and fiction. This article sets out their linked histories and surveys the archival material that future discussions of the relation between Gaddis’ corporate and artistic careers will need to take account of.