In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

Kurt Vonnegut has helped me locate copies of his speeches and some of his harder-to-find essays and reviews, for which I am grateful. I also appreciate his willingness to let me quote his work as I have done in this study. Such quotations come from publications of first appearance except where, as in the cases of Palm Sunday and Fates Worse than Death, the original materials have been employed in the making of a newly coherent work. All of his writing has been ascribed to "Kurt Vonnegut," a recognition that he dropped "Jr." from his name in 1976. As always, the University of Northern Iowa, through a series of research grants, has been my sole support. Special gratitude is due to Robert Weide, the producer of television documentaries who revived my interest in Vonnegut and redirected it to his public spokesmanship. Julie Huffman-klinkowitz's archaeological skills were employed in organizing what has become a vast midden of Vonnegut artifacts, for which I am ever in her debt. ...

Share