SOURCE: "William T. Vollmann," in The New York Times Magazine, February 6, 1994, pp. 18-21.

In the following essay, Bell discusses Vollmann's life and career, focusing on his often dangerous methods of research into street life, prostitution, and war.

Most likely you would not look twice at William T. Vollmann tonight, slumped on the bench of the downtown N train in his shapeless, grubby red parka and oversize jeans. His face is blank, eyes distant behind large, rectangular glasses. He is as unremarkable as Bernhard Goetz. Because he looks as if he has probably passed the last 10 years in a windowless room behind a computer terminal, you would be surprised to hear that he has spent the last few months swashbuckling through Thailand, Somalia and Bosnia with a disregard for personal danger that would shame Hunter S. Thompson, or Jack London, or Errol Flynn. Likewise you would not suspect him...