Mary Gaitskill delivers 2019 Frances Steloff lecture

Award-winning author Mary Gaitskill, known for the visceral realism in her works of fiction, spoke about the importance of description and depth in writing as she delivered this year’s Frances Steloff lecture at the Tang Teaching Museum.

Professor of English Robert Boyers introduced Gaitskill, highlighting her ability to be “fabulously honest.”

“For the candidness and honesty of your work, we are grateful,” he said before President Philip A. Glotzbach and Dean of Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Orr presented Gaitskill with an honorary Doctorate of Letters.

The author of novels, essays and short stories has often been hailed for her perceptiveness and rawness. In her lecture, she emphasized the importance of description and establishing an authoritative voice as a storyteller.

“Writing is about life and life is not about words,” she said. “There is something else, the mysteriousness about that world that fiction must acknowledge.”

Gaitskill then read from her recent novella, “This Is Pleasure,” which looks at gender relations through the lens of the #MeToo movement. It was published online this summer in New Yorker magazine.

Writing — particularly fiction — often plays a role in society, she said.

A reception and book signing were held immediately following the discussion.