Gathering The Arab World’s Young Writing Talent

At Beirut 39, a just-concluded festival exploring the work of 39 young authors who work in Arabic, literary types from the Middle East and beyond considered such issues as repression and freedom of various sorts (political, sexual, etc.), the weight of both tradition and ’60s/’70s nationalist ideology, and the difficulties of using a classical written language to depict lives lived in dialect.

The Italian Way Of Death

“[I]f you die anywhere in Italy, which I highly recommend, you get to lie in state in either an embellished hospital room or else the prettiest room in the family house, often air- conditioned, which for your benefit will be converted into what they call here ‘una camera ardente.

Contest For Oxford Professor Of Poetry Begins In Earnest

“The university announced that so far there had been three nominations for the job: Geoffrey Hill, Paula Claire and Seán Haldane. This year’s election is a re-run after a debacle last year, when first Derek Walcott pulled out over sexual harassment allegations, and then Ruth Padel withdrew,” having “told journalists about the accusations.”