On September 14, 1982, the celebrated novelist and critic John Gardner died in a still-mysterious motorcycle crash on a remote Pennsylvania road. In the 11 years leading up to that moment, Gardner had seen his fame skyrocket — with the publication of his masterful short novel "Grendel" — and then decline again almost as rapidly.

He had become a legendary teacher of creative writing, authoring two now-classic guides to the craft. He had also been accused of plagiarism and offended many of the most famous writers of his day with his 1978 diatribe "On Moral Fiction."

Less than three weeks before his death, TSTB host David Stanton recorded two conversations with Gardner at the Bread Loaf Writer’s Conference in Middlebury, Vermont. These would become his last interview. In an upcoming tribute episode of The Story Talks Back, TSTB will share excerpts from those conversations, as well as interviews with some of the people who knew him best, including his son, Joel; his fiancée at the time of his death, Susan Thornton; and his friend, colleague and student Ron Hansen — now a celebrated novelist in his own right. Take a listen to this preview -- Gardner speaks first, and please lean into your speaker to be sure you’ll hear him ….

Photo credit: Joel Gardner

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