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An Email Correspondence: May - December 2008
JM COETZEE AND ARABELLA KURTZ
Subject: A request from England
Dear Professor Coetzee,
I know it is a long shot emailing you like this, but worth a try. My name is Arabella Kurtz and I am a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working on the doctoral clinical psychology training program at the University of Leicester. I should say first that I love your books, and in particular the way you convey extreme and complex states of mind.
As part of my job I organise training events for supervisors - clinical psychologists working in the National Health Service who provide placements for trainees. I am emailing to ask if you would consider being interviewed in front of an authence about what can be learned from your work from a psychological point of view (or doing something by videoUnk or email). I arranged a similar event a few years ago in which three psychotherapists conversed with AS Byatt, Nick Hornby and Pat Barker to explore areas of mutual interest. I could send you the associated journal publication if you would like.
Best wishes,
Arabella Kurtz
Subject: Proposal
Dear Dr. Kurtz,
Thank you for your letter and the interesting proposal you make.
I suspect I am not the right person for the job. I am not a fluent speaker and don't easily see the point of questions. I am also dubious of the worth of opinions that are expressed by my public persona.
Perhaps you can send me the publication you mention, and I will think further about the matter - at least about the e-mail option.
Best regards,
John Coetzee
Subject: Proposal
Dear Arabella,
Thanks for the journal. The three interviews are very interesting, but only confirm what I had suspected, that I don't have it in me to give that kind of performance.
I'll wait to hear from you regarding alternative possibilities.
Best regards,
John
Subject: Proposal
Dear John,
The last time I did a live interview I felt exhausted afterwards. It would be a relief not to have to perform. Instead of questions, I imagine emailing some initial ideas to see which of them you want to take up. Does this seem a useful form to follow? And what about...