Thanks for this and for all your work. I have just been able to download a free copy of the 2016 book by Joel Whitney titled FINKS which I read a few years ago. The book mentions Matthiessen and several other famous names associated with the now known CIA operation The Paris Review. It deals with the extensive infiltration by the CIA of the literary community including both Fiction and Poetry.
By Matthiessen's own quote and admission in the article he was "getting information on people". He did that by spying.
✔️spy
✔️informant
Oxford defines spy as "a person who secretly collects and reports information on the a cities, movements, and plans of enemies or competitors." An informant "gives information." He doesn't get paid if he keeps it to himself.
Mathiessen did it deceitfully with regard to supposed friends and kindred spirits. As an Americans adept observer, Mathiessen was likely an above average CIA "asset" but moral qualms may have limited his utility if push ever came to shove.
Wright and others knew or strongly suggested that Mathiessen -- like many in the circles -- was a spy who would inform on them so had reason to be guarded in their presence.
The coincidence that two men had heart attacks at the age of 52 is quite clever and several astute readers noted the coincidence in comments. Are we to believe that they were targeted at 52 because 53 is the year when revolutionaries launch the long-planned violent revolt or publish the manifesto that could fatally compromise capitalism ... or lead to a measure of racial justice and civil rights reform?
Rather than the new literary biography, I'm inclined to read Wright for the first time or reread Mathiesssen -- I've yet to tackle the republished 900 page Watson Shadow Country Trilogy as a single work.
Mathiessen was one of the great writers, novelists, chroniclers (Men's Lives) ecologists (Wildlife in America is seminal), humanists and naturalists -- American and global -- of my lifetime, or any other. Teasing Matisse transcends fiction or nonfiction: it's a visceral experience.
In Paradise was perhaps my least favorite, a slog I set aside multiple times. When I finally finished I found insights to the roots of fascism and parallels to our times from 1930s Europe connected to the family histories of people in my lifetime-- whom I would never had known but for other keys is standing up to fascism with acts of kindness and solidarity.
Lee Fang, I recommend it for that reason. You're wrestling with understandable fear, hatred and an inability to find nuance in adversaries many of whom who view your reporting and documenting activities on the spectrum of spying and informing.
One thing you may be missing as you cast your lot with the MAGA right and seemingly endorse modern police state with few safeguards or checks is that your new allies may have more in common with Antifa's more strident elements than you care to consider.
Wow! What an interesting article. I had no idea Wright was abused and was sorry to learn it. I would like to know more about this subject. Thanks Lee.
I can't imagine why the CIA would still be concealing this information -- other than the fact that they can.
both died at 52 of a heart attack 😬
What a fascinating article. That final sentence is a killer!
It seems a bit odd that two of the writers covered in this article died in their 50's of heart attacks.
Thanks for this and for all your work. I have just been able to download a free copy of the 2016 book by Joel Whitney titled FINKS which I read a few years ago. The book mentions Matthiessen and several other famous names associated with the now known CIA operation The Paris Review. It deals with the extensive infiltration by the CIA of the literary community including both Fiction and Poetry.
Lousy headline. Dumb clincher.
By Matthiessen's own quote and admission in the article he was "getting information on people". He did that by spying.
✔️spy
✔️informant
Oxford defines spy as "a person who secretly collects and reports information on the a cities, movements, and plans of enemies or competitors." An informant "gives information." He doesn't get paid if he keeps it to himself.
Mathiessen did it deceitfully with regard to supposed friends and kindred spirits. As an Americans adept observer, Mathiessen was likely an above average CIA "asset" but moral qualms may have limited his utility if push ever came to shove.
Wright and others knew or strongly suggested that Mathiessen -- like many in the circles -- was a spy who would inform on them so had reason to be guarded in their presence.
The coincidence that two men had heart attacks at the age of 52 is quite clever and several astute readers noted the coincidence in comments. Are we to believe that they were targeted at 52 because 53 is the year when revolutionaries launch the long-planned violent revolt or publish the manifesto that could fatally compromise capitalism ... or lead to a measure of racial justice and civil rights reform?
Rather than the new literary biography, I'm inclined to read Wright for the first time or reread Mathiesssen -- I've yet to tackle the republished 900 page Watson Shadow Country Trilogy as a single work.
Mathiessen was one of the great writers, novelists, chroniclers (Men's Lives) ecologists (Wildlife in America is seminal), humanists and naturalists -- American and global -- of my lifetime, or any other. Teasing Matisse transcends fiction or nonfiction: it's a visceral experience.
In Paradise was perhaps my least favorite, a slog I set aside multiple times. When I finally finished I found insights to the roots of fascism and parallels to our times from 1930s Europe connected to the family histories of people in my lifetime-- whom I would never had known but for other keys is standing up to fascism with acts of kindness and solidarity.
Lee Fang, I recommend it for that reason. You're wrestling with understandable fear, hatred and an inability to find nuance in adversaries many of whom who view your reporting and documenting activities on the spectrum of spying and informing.
One thing you may be missing as you cast your lot with the MAGA right and seemingly endorse modern police state with few safeguards or checks is that your new allies may have more in common with Antifa's more strident elements than you care to consider.
It's just the "Buddhist monk" part that stands out to me like a red flag