SOURCE: Jacobsen, Josephine, Jacqueline Tavernier-Courbin, and R. G. Collins. “Interview with Josephine Jacobsen.” THALIA: Studies in Literary Humor 2, nos. 1 & 2 (spring/fall 1979): 5-15.

In the following interview, originally conducted on October 12, 1979, Jacobsen and Tavernier-Courbin, with the assistance of R. G. Collins, discuss literary influences and tastes, differences and similarities of verse and prose, and the role of humor in poetry.

[Tavernier-Courbin]: You have, over a period of time, produced several volumes of poetry, a couple of books on modern French dramatists, and your latest book is, I believe, the collection of short stories, A Walk With Raschid. Does this represent a generally widespread interest or a pattern of change or development?

[Jacobsen]: I don't think it really represents as much a pattern of development as things in which I've always been interested. Years ago I started trying to write some short stories and they were very unsatisfactory. Even I...