Peter Matthiessen (May 22, 1927 – April 5, 2014) was a writer, novelist and naturalist who co-founded the prestigious literary magazine The Paris Review in 1953, along with George Plimpton (whom Matthiessen grew up with and recruited) and Harold L. Humes. In an interview he gave for Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself, Matthiessen fondly recollects the new writers featured in The Paris Review and the magazine’s famous interviews with well known authors.
Peter Matthiessen in Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself
Matthiessen describes the success of The Paris Review as “beyond our wildest dreams.” His own best known works include The Snow Leopard and the novels Far Tortuga and At Play in the Fields of the Lord. He is the only writer to have won the National Book Award for both fiction (Shadow Country) and nonfiction works (The Snow Leopard).
