Max Frisch at the Roundtable with American Writers, 1981

In November of 1981, the Swiss novelist and playwright, Max Frisch, gave two talks at The City College of New York in front of a large audience in a series called the Jacob C. Saposnekow Lectures. Max had asked for prominent American writers and critics to join him on a third day, November 5th, in discussing the topic of social consciousness and literature. Originally, Donald Barthelme and Susan Sontag were supposed to be part of the panel, but Donald, accepting a last minute invitation from Stanford University for a guest lecture, felt he had exceeded the number of times he could leave his teaching responsibilities in Houston, Texas that semester. Susan Sontag, whom he had recruited, fell ill, and bowed out the day before. Max had particularly looked forward to dueling with Donald and Susan, both of whom he knew, but did not let his disappointment show. The panel that did assemble was distinguished: Cynthia Ozick, whose critical reputation, like the others who participated, has only grown in stature since that late afternoon in November, was joined by novelists Lore Segal, Harold Brodkey, Renata Adler, and Wesley Brown. Saul Brody, the Chairman of the English Department who had arranged the Forum, proudly introduced Wesley as a graduate of the CCNY's Master's Program in Creative Writing. The panel's moderator was Angus Fletcher.

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