Episode 24 — Charles Shields

Summary: Charles Shields is the guest. He's the author of AND SO IT GOES — KURT VONNEGUT: A LIFE, now available from Henry Holt. Shields is also the author of MOCKINGBIRD: A PORTRAIT OF HARPER LEE, also available from Holt. This is the first authoritative biography of Vonnegut ever written, with Vonnegut himself authorizing the project prior to his death in 2007. Topics of conversation include: Kurt, Indianapolis, Dresden, Cornell, PTSD, suicide, science fiction, family, journalism, WWII, The Battle of the Bulge, Billy Pilgrim, SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE, Joe Crone, creative burnout, Jill Krementz, Cape Cod, New York City, Sardi's, divorce, tragedy, self-loathing, and the psychology of meeting famous people.