Conversations with Pauline Kael

Conversations with Pauline Kael was published in 1996 as part of the Literary Conversations Series by the University Press of Mississippi. The volume compiles a series of interviews conducted with Kael, the formidable and polarizing film critic for The New Yorker, whose writing style redefined American cultural journalism. By gathering these conversations, the book offers a retrospective look at her critical philosophy and the development of her sharp, conversational prose style over several decades.

The collection serves as a secondary source for scholars and cinephiles interested in the evolution of Kael's thought and her influence on the landscape of 20th-century criticism. The editors curated these discussions to capture the essence of her personality and her uncompromising commitment to subjective, visceral reactions to film. Upon its release, it was regarded as a valuable pedagogical tool for students of journalism and film history, providing essential context to the life and career of a critic who remained both a cultural force and a figure of significant debate.