A cultural news roundup.
- A. Whitney Ellsworth, the first publisher of The New York Review of Books, has died at seventy-five.
- Even Kate Middleton’s spelling is under scrutiny.
- Andrea Levy’s The Long Song has won the Walter Scott prize for historical fiction.
- Whoa. Keanu Reeves writes poetry.
- Pottermore mania!
- Celebrate Independent Bookseller’s Week.
- The Hobbit movie will contain an elf character not found in the original book, to be played by Evangeline Lilly.
- The first self-published author to sell a million e-books is one John Locke (not to be confused with the philosopher).
- Says Jim Shepard of his ominously named story collection You Think That’s Bad: “It does seem to embody some of the characters’ worldviews … [It’s like saying,] ‘Wait until you see what’s coming.’”
- In order to compete against online retailers, independent bookstores may have to start charging for their events. Ann Patchett is concerned: “I wouldn’t want the people who have no idea who I am and have nothing else to do on a Wednesday night shut out. Those are your readers.”
- Who will win the Greenaway Medal?
- Meet the greatest baseball game ever played.