By Meredith May - San Francisco Chronichle - Wednesday, November 21, 2012
- Pulitzer Prize winner Herman Wouk, 97. Photo: Liza C. Stein / SF
While author Herman Wouk was churning out a string of epic novels, from the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Caine Mutiny" to "War and Remembrance," he kept the beginnings of an "impossible novel" buried in his desk drawer.
The story of Moses.
Now, a half century later, the 97-year-old literary giant has found a way to put his stamp on a biblical giant.
"It's the greatest story one could tell; Moses is the lawgiver of the Jewish people, the Christian Bible and the lawgiver of the Quran," said Wouk, during a Skype interview from his Palm Springs home. "But as I matured, I realized that story has already been told to perfection."
But then he drank some really strong coffee while walking in the Santa Cruz redwoods with his son. By the end of the hike, he had solved the riddle of how to write the book.
The story of Moses.
Now, a half century later, the 97-year-old literary giant has found a way to put his stamp on a biblical giant.
"It's the greatest story one could tell; Moses is the lawgiver of the Jewish people, the Christian Bible and the lawgiver of the Quran," said Wouk, during a Skype interview from his Palm Springs home. "But as I matured, I realized that story has already been told to perfection."
But then he drank some really strong coffee while walking in the Santa Cruz redwoods with his son. By the end of the hike, he had solved the riddle of how to write the book.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/books/article/Literary-giant-Herman-Wouk-takes-on-Moses-4057443.php#ixzz2CzHfal3z