Vonnegut's first reading of Breakfast of Champions, 1970

Andrew sez, "Here's a recording of Kurt Vonnegut's very first public reading of Breakfast of Champions, 3 years before it was published, at the 92nd Street Y in 1970."

VONNEGUT: The best audience in the world is the 92nd Street Y. Those people know everything and they are wide awake and responsive.

HELLER: I was part of a panel there on December seventh. The fiftieth anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

VONNEGUT: Were you bombed at Pearl Harbor, Joe?

HELLER: No.

VONNEGUT: Of course, James Jones was. I was saying this would be sort of a valedictory interview because our generation is taking its leave now. James Jones is gone. Irwin Shaw is gone. Truman Capote is gone.

HELLER: Yeah, but nobody's replaced us.

VONNEGUT: No. (Laughter)

Link

Coral Cache MP3 mirror

(Thanks, Andrew!)