Curriculum Vitae
by Gregory de la Haba
Curriculum Vitae
A Journey to Montauk, Elsewhere, and Back
MEET THE AUTHOR
We asked Gregory de la Haba two questions. Why did you write Curriculum Vitae, and why do you write nonfiction?
C&R Press Open Submissions Selection 2021
ADVANCE PRAISE
“Gregory de la Haba’s memoir is in the tradition of Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. In a narrative that is engaging, insightful and precise–much like the drawings and sketches by de la Haba that adorn the book–he tells a story of artistic enlightenment, first through youthful attempts to enhance “the work” through life experience, and then, finding his muse within the people and places that matter most. Read this book to discover what it takes to be an artist, a friend, a husband–a man. Curriculum Vitae is a keeper.”
—T.J. English, New York Times best-selling author of The Westies and Havana Nocturne
“Curriculum Vitae is a wild book, as eccentric and electric as the talented artist that wrote it. Fantastic.”
—James McBride, New York Times bestselling author of The Color of Water and The Good Lord Bird, winner of the National Book Award for Fiction
“I don’t recall the last book I read continually, maybe because they’ve all been dry nonfiction, as opposed to what Gregory de la Haba has done with Curriculum Vitae. Aside from What Happens Next in the life of a memoirist (wanting to know), I have to be surprised, at least once a page or so, by the language, meaning, I have to be thinking ‘I didn’t see THAT coming…’ then this follows: ‘but somehow it’s just right-perfect’ in nuance. This way each vignette becomes a story with an ending and ENDINGS ARE EVERYTHING. No ending, no story. Period. Apart from being an incredible artist, Mr. de la Haba is a natural writer and storyteller. Anyway, a great service has been done, but only for those who love life… no wait, not necessarily that…. but a service to those who have an intense INTEREST in it… it…. it’s doings, the cause and effect of it.”
—Allan Weisbecker, author of Cosmic Banditos and In Search of Captain Zero
“Several writers have turned their focus toward capturing the ghosts and glory, the tradition and tenderness, the sweat and the soused of McSorley’s Old Ale House—from myself to my father, Geoffrey “Bart” Bartholomew, to the great Joseph Mitchell. None of them have had the ace up Gregory de la Haba’s sleeve, which is to include prints of his gorgeous, soulful art alongside his big-hearted prose (which remains wrapped in just the right amount of New York toughness). Curriculum Vitae is a powerful song of family, creativity, and bar life, and a vital addition to the literature of McSorley’s.”
—Rafe Bartholomew, author of Two & Two and Pacific Rims.