William Blake’s cottage in Felpham, England is on the market for $970,000. Since Blake only lived in the place for three years, that means a single night of Blake’s time could be valued at about $885.
What’s a Night with William Blake Worth?
An Accomplished Saxophonist
Here's a great interview with Colin Stetson, the saxophonist who's lent his talents to such acts as Tom Waits, Bon Iver, TV on the Radio, Arcade Fire, and Feist.
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Jewel Boxes
Colm Tóibín's new book on Elizabeth Bishop is unusually hard to categorize. Part “primer,” part “personal reflection,” in Jonathan Farmer’s words, it moves back and forth between analysis and lyricism, alternating passages of beauty with nuts-and-bolts guides to Bishop’s poems. In Slate, Farmer tries to nail it down. You could also read our own Michael Bourne’s review of Tóibín's The Master.
“Telegraphic art”
Recommended Reading: Christopher Benfey on Emily Dickinson.
Luck Runs Out
Just Right
The National Rifle Association is featuring a series of reimagined fairy tales on their website. The only difference? Way more guns. In the debut story, Hansel and Gretel don't bemoan their lack of food since they had been taught from birth to hunt with guns for sustenance. No, it's not yet April Fools' Day.
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Thomas Pynchon: The Comic Strip
Galley Cat highlights a 2003 comic strip, "Thomas Pynchon, Man of Mystery," that is unfortunately yet to go into syndication.
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The Intellectuals
A look at the writer Nelson Algren, a.k.a. Lewis Brogan in Simone de Beauvoir's The Mandarins.
“Total student”
To survive in the wastelands of Twitter, the promising spambot needs to craft an interesting bio. Which explains why one bot assumed the mantle of “bacon ninja.”
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