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Meaning
The speaker says writing is not something he enjoys doing for its own sake. He suggests that he only writes when pressure forces him to, and that teaching takes his attention away from writing. The quote presents writing as a task driven by obligation rather than inspiration.
When It Was Said
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Who It Was Said To
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Historical Context
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Source
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Original Language & Translation
Originally said in English.
Did They Really Say It?
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About Edmund White
American novelist, memoirist, playwright, biographer and essayist
Edmund White was an American novelist, memoirist, playwright, biographer, and essayist. He was known as a pioneering figure in LGBTQ, especially gay, literature after the Stonewall riots. He wrote with unusual candor about gay identity, relationships, and sex, at a time when coming out could still be dangerous. His work is marked by intimacy and literary elegance. Among his best-known books are the semi-autobiographical trilogy A Boy's Own Story, The Beautiful Room Is Empty, and The Farewell Symphony, and he also co-authored The Joy of Gay Sex, which helped encourage a sex-positive conversation.
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