About 30,000 books (including about 2000 classified as rare) are missing from France’s Biblioteque national, and the library’s chief curator is being questioned. “The curator, who has denied the allegations, is the subject of one of half a dozen police inquiries into suspected thefts at the institution, which was founded in the 16th century and, as France’s principal copyright and legal deposit library, holds some 35m books, documents, manuscripts, maps, plans and photos.”
Tag: 06.28.05
Charge: France’s Literary Prizes Rigged
The integrity of France’s major literary awards were called into question this week by a government anti-corruption probe. “There is an evident risk of a conflict of interest. Moreover, the conditions in which the jury members are recruited or co-opted, often for life, are not exactly transparent, which makes them suspect as a matter of principle. France’s major literary awards such as the Prix Femina, the Prix Médicis and – most prestigious of all – the Prix Goncourt have long been accused of rigging their votes, taking it in turns to reward big publishers.”
Violinist Isidore Cohen, 82
“Isidore Cohen, a violinist who, as a member of the Juilliard String Quartet and the Beaux Arts Trio, was an important chamber music performer and a teacher, died on Thursday in the Bronx.”
Judge Rules Graham Dances Belong To Company
A U.S. District Court judge in New York has found that seven Graham dances — including the seminal works “Embattled Garden” and “Phaedra” — belong to the center rather than to Ron Protas, Graham’s personal heir.”
Why Has Movie Attendance Plunged? We’ve Seen Them All Before!
Everywhere you look this summer, there are movie remakes and retreads. “Is it any wonder this avalanche of retreads has come at a time when theater attendance is headed toward its lowest level since 1996? Young moviegoers, who make up the bulk of film audiences, crave surprise, sensation and authenticity. So if the multiplexes are full of homogenized pop baubles, why wouldn’t more people than ever be happy to stay home and fire up a DVD on their new plasma-screen TV?”