1. ENGLISH ▪ ARTS & SCIENCES
University of South Florida ▪ 4202 East Fowler Ave, CPR 107 ▪ Tampa, FL 33620-5550
(813) 974-2421 ▪ FAX (813) 974-2270 ▪ http://english.usf.edu/
January 6th, 2014
Dear Sir or Madam:
I am so very pleased to write this letter of recommendation for James McNulty. I have known James first as an
exemplary student in two literature classes, Selected American Authors (Oates, Updike, Vonnegut) and Modern
American Literature (1912-1945), then as director of his Honors course in James Joyce’s Ulysses, and finally as the
second reader of his novella, balloons float away, his Thesis for the English Honor’s program, written under the
direction of Professor John Henry Fleming. I should not say “finally,” since, to our mutual benefit, James and I
continue to have stimulating talks about the nature and progress of his work and mine.
In both literature courses, James distinguished himself as the brightest and most attentive student in class. He
received an A+ on his major exams, an A+ on his four critical essays. His contributions to class discussion were
consistently sharp and articulate, and his demeanor was always lively and pleasant. I sometimes read James’ work
aloud in class to illustrate exemplary thinking and writing. I will go further yet. I would rank James in the upper one
percent of the very best students I have known both in my undergraduate and graduate classes of over three decades
of teaching.
I have been particularly impressed by the way James’s aptitude for literary criticism and his creative interests
complement one another, by which I mean that his critical work, his 20 page critique of Joyce’s Ulysses and
Faulkner’s Absalom, Absalom, for instance, is written with the same touch of the poet, the same impassioned spirit
and love of language that characterizes James’ compelling, sensitive novella, balloons float away. In both cases,
James evinces his fascination for and impressive understanding of experimental fiction, including his interest in
film. In ingenious fashion, James’ whimsical, surreal tale of a depressed boy in quest of his runaway mother puts to
work the stream of consciousness technique whose various levels and nuances of meaning he deftly explores in his
study of the Joyce and Faulkner texts. This combination of clear and disciplined thought and creative verve will
distinguish James’s academic work no matter where his graduate interests lead. Given James’ astute critical skills
and his abundant creative energy, it is no surprise that he should have recently committed himself to the editing of a
new literary magazine, Driftwood Press, which he and another student of mine, Jerrod Schwartz, conceived and
designed.
To all of these endeavors James brings a confident, relaxed and sympathetic manner that makes him a delight to be
around, an openness, enthusiasm, and freshness missing in many of today’s graduate students. It seems to me that
his good nature as well as his intellectual brightness energizes students around him.
Because of these qualities and his obvious dedication and enthusiastic commitment to higher learning, I am
delighted by James’ choice to go to graduate school. I have no doubt that he will continue the same level of
excellence with you that he has achieved in his work at the University of South Florida. I cannot recommend him
too strongly.
Sincerely Yours,
Dr. Lawrence R. Broer
Professor Emeritus
English Department
University of South Florida
lbroer@cas.usf.edu