The story of how a publishing house began is the definition of literary inside baseball, but this piece by Jonathan Galassi — in which the FSG president responds to an upcoming book on the heyday of his company — does a pretty nice job of spurring a general reader’s interest. Among other things, it reveals that First Wife Dorothea Straus once called the company’s office “a sexual sewer.”
Early Days
Not what he, nor I, expected.
Teju Cole on partying, though very civilly, with V.S. Naipaul: “The combination of ego, tenderness, and sly provocation was typical.”
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Mean Reading
In the current issue of Tin House Robin Romm has a very compelling essay on the value of mean-spirited judgement in our novels, especially as empathy becomes reified into fiction’s greatest gift and virtue, or even treated as a therapeutic offering.
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Alexandra Huynh Is Speaking On Her Own Terms
Newly appointed youth poet laureate Alexandra Huynh discusses the significance of her new role and the motivation behind her own poetry.
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‘The scent is, in a word, newsy’
The New York Times, now available in scented candle form.
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Did You Say Paid?
“It is intended to attract candidates who otherwise would not have access to publishing, and to therefore increase the diversity and inclusivity of the industry.” Indie publisher Graywolf Press is offering a paid, 10-month internship “designed to support a person who is interested in learning more about the publishing industry through an introductory, hands-on experience.”
1,000 on Twitter
Cheers to @Selorian for becoming the 1,000th follower of @The_Millions on Twitter.
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