Abstract: J. Hillis Miller (1928-2021) is one of the most prominent figures in literary criticism and theory of the world today. His works and academic career have had wide international influence. After receiving his Ph. D. from Harvard University, he taught at Johns Hopkins University, Yale University and the University of California at Irvine. He retired as professor emeritus in 2002. Miller was president of the Modern Language Association of America in ١٩٨٦ and contributed significantly to professional academic institutions and organizations throughout his career. As an important representative of the Yale School, he had close relationships with Derrida, Paul de Man, Geoffrey Hartman and Harold Bloom, all were brilliant figures in the contemporary literary world. Dr. Ning Yizhong did postdoctoral research under his supervision at UCI from ١٩٩٧ to ١٩٩٨. This is part of his long interviews with Professor Miller during that time. In this interview, Miller talked about the Yale School in general, with the French philosopher Jacques Derrida joining them and forming the “Gang of Five”, and Jacques Derrida, Paul de Man and Harold Bloom in particular. As their colleague and close friend, Miller certainly knew more and deeper about them, their personality, their academic activities and what they were involved in. From these talks, we come to know the origin of the “Manifesto of Deconstruction”, the heated debate on the wartime writings by Paul de Man, Bloom's legendary genius, their friendship which help to build the Yale School, to name just a few. Consequently, these talks are of great historical values as far as the history of western literary criticism and theory is concerned, and they are also of practical values for literary studies, for they can serve as a unique and significant background which Miller alone can provide, now that all the five of them have passed away. In this sense, this interview also serves a solemn memorial to them all.

Key words: Miller, Yale School, Deconstruction, Derrida, de Man, Bloom