Editors’ Note

“On Clarence Major” is the simple title of this issue of Pacific Coast Philology, 59.2. It is devoted to one of the most versatile and protean contemporary American writers, who has produced award-winning fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and paintings since the late 1960s and continues to do so.An introduction following this note will elaborate further, as will the essays contained here. “On Clarence Major” was edited by Martin Japtok, with helpful editorial assistance from Richard Hishmeh and Craig Svonkin. Craig, PAMLA’s executive director, has also been instrumental in bringing Clarence Major to the 2025 conference in San Francisco, and he contributed to the interview with Major appearing in this issue. The issue concludes, as always, with book reviews procured and edited by PCP’s book review editor, Lina Geriguis. We would also like to draw attention to the cover of 59.2, a painting by Clarence Major entitled Girl in a Raincoat. More of his paintings are reproduced, in grayscale, throughout the interview.Our next issue, 60.1, will be a general issue again.As always, special thanks to Craig Svonkin for his support and to the production team at Pennsylvania State University Press, led by production manager Leah Noel.