Is literary criticism getting too nasty? That was the topic at BookExpo in Chicago. “It seemed debatable — at least as many people seem to think that literary critics are more often too kind, or at least too polite, than not — but that didn’t stop one prominent book critic from bashing another’s brains in, figuratively speaking, for being too negative.” Critic Carlin Romano and Dale Peck sparred, with Roman railing at length against what he called Peck’s “savagery” and “shrieking denunciations,” dismissing his work as “performance art.”
Tag: 06.04.04
The Old Book Fraud
David George Holt concocted an elaborate fraud in old books. “In e-mails heavily salted with charming, European-seeming malapropisms, he conjured aliases such as elderly Swiss antiquities dealer “Frederik Buwe” and offered precious folios at remarkably low prices, book dealers’ records show. “Dave J. Masd,” allegedly a Holt alias, advertised a vellum leaf from an illuminated mid-13th Century Bible for only $211 and a copy of the Giant Bible of Mainz (1452-53) in good condition, all pages complete, for $224.”
A Photo Of Van Gogh?
“A Scottish author believes he has discovered the only photograph in existence of Vincent van Gogh, the Dutch master painter, as an adult.
With a fixed stare and pale skin, the neatly suited man with the bristling beard glares out of the nineteenth century photograph with the intensity of a master painter.”
Cool: The Shows The Republicans Love To Hate
“The New York City Republican Convention Host Committee recently designated eight Broadway shows as fit to ply convention delegates with free tickets. There is barely a Tony nominee in the bunch. All are nice, safe musicals guaranteed not to offend mainstream American tastes or, for that matter, provoke much thought. The title song of “42nd Street” is about as risqué as it gets, with its reference to “sexy ladies from the Eighties who are indiscreet. Isn’t there marketing gold to be mined, especially in Democratic New York, by advertising these plays as shows Republicans love to hate?”
Handicapping The Tonys
“While it is easy to dismiss the Tonys as a crass Broadway publicity device or a ridiculously exclusive talent contest (only Broadway shows need apply, thank you very much), there are always a couple of genuine reasons to watch the show. It offers some competitive drama, of course, especially for avid Broadway fans, people who actually know what orchestrations are and what a musical’s book is. (Hint: it’s not a novel.) And sure enough, this year such fans can anticipate several close races, including those for best actress in a play and best actress in a musical.”
Scottish Opera Crisis At The Wire
“The future of Scottish Opera was hanging in the balance last night after members of the board failed to agree to an Executive-sponsored rescue package. The board meeting had been expected to reach a decision on cost-cutting moves including possible job losses.”
Boston Pops’ American Idol
Hundreds of hopeful singers lined up Thursday to audition for a chance to sing with the Boston Pops. “In its own version of “American Idol,” the orchestra is holding open auditions Thursday and Friday to find a vocalist who will sing in front of 500,000 people expected at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River. The only requirements are that applicants be over 18 and not have agents or recording contracts.”