— wins British Book Association’s “Author of the Year.” – BBC
Category: words
ANATOMY OF A LITERARY FEUD
Tom Wolfe versus the Three Stooges. A battle for posterity. – New York Observer
HOLOCAUST DENIAL TRIAL
British writer David Irving has instigated a libel suit against an American historian for calling him “one of the most dangerous spokespersons for Holocaust denial.” The trial, will almost inevitably be used by some to claim legitimacy for Holocaust “revisionism” — as if the Holocaust as a historical fact were open to debate. But let’s get the facts straight. – The Atlantic
ANY DOUBT —
— where publishing is going? None, if you’re paying attention to the headlines. A year ago e-publishing was little more than talk. But a glance at the publishing headlines of the past several months shows an industry racing towards its future. – *spark-online
ONCE UPON A TIME
Okay, so Tom Wolfe changed journalism. Nonetheless, when he starts lecturing about art, he’s tiresome. – Salon
STRANGE DAYS
Where did the contemporary novel come from, and where is it going? Five writers write about the future of fiction. – Village Voice Literary Supplement
A GOOD YEAR FOR BOOKS
Preliminary sales figures suggest 1999 was an excellent year for the book business, with sales increases registered by most publishing houses. – Publishers Weekly
NEOLOGICAL NOTHINGNESS
When “Seinfeld” went off the air two years ago, the media frenzied around the idea that – gasp – all along it had been a show about nothing, an existential sitcom. But to philosophers that nothing is quite meaningful. A Gen X philosophy prof explores relationships between serious philosophical ideas and the late television program in a new collection of essays by philosophy professors/hard-core Seinfeld fans. The fun includes “George’s Failed Quest for Happiness: An Aristotelian Analysis,” and “Kramer and Kierkegaard: Stages on Life’s Way.” – Lingua Franca
THE EXAMINED LIFE
The late writer Patrick O’Brian was famously private about his own life. O’Brian’s biographer Dean King, explains why he was drawn to write about the novelist: “I felt that by not telling the truth to reporters and to his live audiences in the United States during visits here, O’Brian forfeited the right to not have a closer look taken. There’s a right way and a wrong way to go about these things. My motive was not to bring down this man, it was simply to set the record straight, to present an accurate record of a great writer.” – The Idler
TAKING STOCK
Author Carol Shields puts aside her struggles with cancer as she publishes a new collection of stories and finishes her biography of Jane Austen. – National Post (Canada)