I dreamed my way into Lincoln and the details that moved me - his lack of education or 'civilized' manners and his deep connection to all humankind. Jerome Charyn civilizeconnectiondeep Change image and share on social
Lincoln prevailed: wearing his green shawl in the White House and gripped with melancholy, his feet constantly cold, he preserved a nation that had begun to unravel, often holding it together with nothing more than the flat of his hand and his unfaltering sense of human worth. Jerome Charyn begincoldconstantly share on social
Compared with my brother, I always felt like Richard III, some clever humpbacked thing who surpassed him in the end. He was the one who read books, but I became the writer. He painted and drew, but I was the one who got accepted by the High School of Music and Art. Jerome Charyn acceptartbook share on social
Many of the writers I admire - Melville, Dickinson, Kafka - were virtually invisible during their lifetimes. Art, I think, often has to dance around in the void. Jerome Charyn admireartdance Change image and share on social
We're the country of movie stars because the stars, like ourselves, represent a kind of extended infantilism, beauties waiting for the big chance. Jerome Charyn beautybigchance Change image and share on social
It was difficult to find my way into 'I Am Abraham,' to feel confident enough to inhabit Lincoln's persona. I began with a prologue in a neutral voice, wrote of Lincoln at the White House with a sly young reporter quizzing him about his humble origins. Jerome Charyn abrahambeginconfident share on social
Some readers may be disturbed that I wrote 'The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson' in Emily's own voice. I wasn't trying to steal her thunder or her music. I simply wanted to imagine my way into the head and heart of Emily Dickinson. Jerome Charyn dickinsondisturbemily share on social
Only a crazy man would write a novel in Lincoln's voice. Jerome Charyn crazylincolnman Change image and share on social
What I find curious is that I ever became a writer at all. I grew up in the South Bronx, the land of poverty and petty hoodlums. Jerome Charyn bronxcuriousfind Change image and share on social
I can say without melodrama or malice that Hollywood ruined my life. Jerome Charyn hollywoodlifemalice Change image and share on social
