Writing About Death, Killing and Nonhuman Animals: An Interview with David Vann

Abstract

Born in 1966 in Alaska, David Vann writes novels and short stories which were awarded several prizes. In this interview, the author talks about his relationship with non-human animals, the ecological crisis, death and guns. He discusses his background, including his family history, his Cherokee heritage, his literary influences, and his relationship with the American society, which have led him to write novels and short stories with serious, even taboo subjects, in a language that can be brutal or theatrical. This interview was conducted in February 2021.

Keywords

• tragedy
• death
• nonhuman animals
• hunting
• killing
• guns