I am a memoirist, essayist and poet. I have published seven autobiographies, three books of essays and several books of poetry, and I write plays, film and television across more than fifty years of creative work.
The person outside the work — what they're learning and tinkering with.
In 1981, with no bachelor's degree, I accepted the lifetime Reynolds Professorship of American Studies at Wake Forest University and taught philosophy, ethics, theology, science, theater and writing.
Touring Europe with Porgy and Bess in 1954–1955, I made a practice of learning the language of every country I visited, and within a few years I was proficient in several languages.
