How did Ian Fleming come up with James Bond? It’s easy to think, considering the political context of his era, that Fleming tailored his superspy to be the ideal hero of the Cold War. Yet there’s another, more prosaic explanation — was the author simply having a midlife crisis?
The Spy Who Saved Me
75 Notes for an Unwritten Essay on Literary Prizes
Over on The Busy Signal, Matthew Hunte presents 75 Notes For An Unwritten Essay on Literary Prizes. (22. “Want it? Want it? Of course I wanted it. I wanted it so fucking bad I could taste it!”)
Ill Will
Did our interview with Hilary Mantel yesterday pique your interest in her latest book? The Times has an excerpt you can read. Elsewhere, Damian Barr (who conducted the interview) pens a response to Lord Bell, who recently suggested that Scotland Yard should investigate Mantel for criminal intent.
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This Writing Life
"I thought there were would be more in this writing life, an easier path to walk. I write those words and know they are the unwise thoughts of my younger self and that I am still too stubborn to give up on my dreams. When Annie Dillard invited me outside for that smoke, she knew very well what it would mean to a young writer like me. She intuited my ambitions and it was her way of encouraging me." This essay is ostensibly about smoking cigarettes and playing catch with Annie Dillard, but it's also about the incredibly important role that an established writer can play in helping a struggling up-and-comer.
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Wimmer on Translation
Natasha Wimmer, translator of Roberto Bolaño's 2666 and Álvaro Enrigue's Sudden Death, explains her work process and why she’s translating a woman’s work next. Pair with our founder C. Max Magee’s thoughts on machine translation.
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A New Home
“But artifacts cannot speak for themselves; the meaning of a museum is determined by acts of interpretation.” Year in Reading alumnus Vinson Cunningham writes on the new National Museum of African American History and Culture.
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Fellow Writers
BuzzFeed is looking for the next round of applicants for their annual Emerging Writers Fellowship, which has a mission to “diversify the broader media landscape by investing in the next generation of necessary voices.” The fellowships are given to four nonfiction writers and include a $12,000 stipend and career mentorship from BuzzFeed’s editorial staff. The deadline is October 1.
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