Blood Pressure

In The Paris Review Interviews, Vol. III, I am reading about Georges's Simenon's method of composition, which allowed him to write nearly 500 novels. It involved 11 days (1 chapter per day, 3 for revision) of intense writing.

From the interview with Simenon:

Simenon: Yes. And it's [the physical act of writing] awful. That is why, before I start a novel--this may sound foolish here, but its' the truth--generally a few days before the start of a novel I look to see that I don't have any appointment for 11 days. Then I call the doctor. He takes my blood pressure, he checks everything. And he says, OK.

TPR: Cleared for action.

Simenon: Exactly. Because I have to be sure that I am good for the 11 days.

TPR: Does he come again at the end of the 11 days?

Simenon: Usually:

TPR: His idea of yours?

Simenon: It's his idea.

TPR: What does he find?

Simenon: The blood pressure is usually down.

TPR: What does he think of this? Is it all right?

Simenon: He thinks it is all right but unhealthy to do it too often.

Simenon lived to be 86 years old.

For more on Simenon, read our coverage of him in conjucntion with Reading the World.

Comments

[Harris Thompson]

Thank you, cognitive.