What really happened with the CIA and The Paris Review?
11 days ago
- #Literature
- #Espionage
- #CIA
- Peter Matthiessen was a co-founder of The Paris Review and a former CIA operative, a fact revealed in 1977.
- The CIA funded various cultural projects during the Cold War, including The Paris Review, though direct evidence of funding is unclear.
- Matthiessen's CIA involvement was initially a cover for his espionage activities, providing a visible profession while he worked undercover.
- The Paris Review's early years were marked by bohemian gatherings in Matthiessen's Paris apartment, blending literary and espionage circles.
- Matthiessen's later life was shaped by his environmental activism, Zen Buddhism, and efforts to atone for his privileged background.
- His work, including 'The Snow Leopard,' blended science and spirituality, though he resisted being labeled a 'nature writer.'
- Matthiessen's relationship with The Paris Review and George Plimpton became strained after his CIA ties were exposed.
- Lance Richardson's biography 'True Nature' explores Matthiessen's complex legacy, including his CIA years and literary achievements.