Does it matter if Joseph Mitchell embellished his journalism?

He is long known to have used composite characters and a new biography will reveal more embellishments – but perhaps that’s the magic of his workOver the weekend, the feathers of American literary journalists ruffled lightly in the breeze of a review that appeared in the New York Review of Books. The review, written by longtime New Yorker staff writer Janet Malcolm, was of an upcoming biography of another New Yorker staff writer, Joseph Mitchell, due to be published in the United States on 28 April. Malcolm’s review can be read as a pre-emptive defence of Mitchell’s legacy as one of the giants of American literary journalism. The biographer in question, Thomas Kunkel, has apparently found more evidence of what was already somewhat known: that Mitchell embellished his nonfiction, often condensing characters and facts to smooth out his stories. In one already well-known example, a long piece called Old Mr Flood condenses several men’s stories into the titular Mr Flood. Mitchell admitted this openly in a preface to the book later published under that name.He has mixed up nonfiction with fiction. He has made an unwholesome, almost toxic brew out of the two genres. It is too bad he is dead and can’t be pilloried. Or perhaps it is all right that he is dead, because he is suffering the torments of hell for his sins against the spirit of fact. And so on.Every writer of nonfiction who has struggled with the ditch and the bushes knows what Mitchell is talking about, but few of us... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A devastating COVID surge takes a fresh toll on Indian journalism

More than a year into the global pandemic, the coronavirus has exploded across India. The spread has been fueled, in part, by possible new variants and the recent holding of mass public events, including political rallies and religious celebrations; vaccination rates, meanwhile, remain low, even... Continue reading at Columbia Journalism Review

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2021-04-27 12:34:53 UTC ]
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Mentoring matters

I set up The Middle Way Mentoring Project, a two year professional development scheme, to support early-career writers take the next step in their writing career. Through my work managing a small press I met plenty of ‘nearly there’ writers who weren’t able to take the next step. These writers... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-04-20 21:18:59 UTC ]
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Panel Mania: MPLS Sound by Joseph Illidge, Hannibal Tabu and Meredith Laxton

'MPLS Sound' is a new graphic novel by Joe Illidge, Hannibal Tabu, and Meredith Laxton that explores the music scene in 1970s Minneapolis and the impact of Prince through the experiences of Starchild, a fictional band organized by Theresa, a young guitarist. In this 8-page preview, a surprised... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-04-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal restructures as ACE awards grant

Poetry Birmingham Literary Journal has restructured after securing its first grant from Arts Council England.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-22 08:57:11 UTC ]
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Truth, profits and the purpose of journalism | Letters

Integrity is in short supply in many newsrooms, argues Michael Newman, while Eddie O’Brien says journalists must do more to reflect opposing views in their reports Clive Myrie nails down much of what is eating away at the heart of modern written journalism (What is journalism for? The short... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-03-16 17:09:27 UTC ]
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How We Planned Our Very First Virtual Bookstore Event in a Matter of Hours

One of the biggest books of this past plague year was Erik Larson’s The Splendid and the Vile. The success of the book is no surprise, Larson’s books are perennial bestsellers and he’s a hell of a storyteller. But the core narrative, the perseverance of the British people in the face of Nazi... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-03-12 09:50:38 UTC ]
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Cat, dog... does it really matter?

If I were to condense this comment piece into a poem, it might go like this: on the joys of reading a book (of poetry) in its original language for World Book Day Even in those four lines (as in all poetry) there is so much to unpack! Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-04 07:11:51 UTC ]
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Mitchell Beazley bags 'Bake Off' star Makan's 30 Minute Indian

Mitchell Beazley has bagged Chetna's 30 Minute Indian, the fifth book from “Bake Off” star Chetna Makan. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-26 10:02:32 UTC ]
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Samira Shackle | 'I enjoyed writing in a more descriptive way than you would in journalism'

Pakistan, and particularly her mother's home city of Karachi, have long held a fascination for British journalist Samira Shackle. In fact, in 2012 she quit her job at the New Statesman and for a year became a Karachiite. Shackle says: “I had an urge to reconnect with this heritage—this was... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-26 06:47:55 UTC ]
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Michael Joseph to release Captain Tom's Life Lessons

Penguin Michael Joseph is to publish Life Lessons, a book Captain Sir Tom Moore finished writing at the end of last year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-21 19:45:01 UTC ]
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News Corp agrees deal with Google over payments for journalism

News Corp will receive ‘significant payments’ to feature news outlets in Google’s News ShowcaseGoogle and Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp have signed a multi-year partnership that will lead to the search engine paying for journalism from news sites around the world, including the Wall Street Journal,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-02-17 17:11:57 UTC ]
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When Black kids – shut out from the whitewashed world of children's literature – took matters into their own hands

At the turn of the 20th century, with few children's books featuring Black characters, one young editor implored his peers to 'Let us make the world know that we are living.' Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2021-02-05 13:08:13 UTC ]
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The Black Friend by Frederick Joseph, Read by Miebaca Yohannes

Every Monday through Friday, AudioFile’s editors recommend the best in audiobook listening. We keep our daily episodes short and sweet, with audiobook clips to give you a sample of our featured listens. Miebaka Yohannes narrates The Black Friend with a conversational tone that mirrors Frederick... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-01-19 09:47:00 UTC ]
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This gorgeous new children’s book celebrates Black Lives Matter

“As a graphic designer, we can play a role in standing up for something.” During the protests for racial justice this past summer and over the past few years, Black Lives Matter became a movement and rallying cry, a message of optimism and hope, and a simple statement of affirmation: the lives... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2021-01-19 08:00:06 UTC ]
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The dramatic — and embellished — life of Graham Greene

Richard Greene looks past the self-mythology to explore the novelist’s cultural context. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-01-15 13:00:00 UTC ]
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James Comey explains the values of the justice system, and why they matter

The ex-FBI director says his book is part of a larger effort to rebuild institutions after Trump. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-01-08 13:00:00 UTC ]
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Journalism’s obligation to democracy extends beyond the runoffs

Yesterday, Georgia voters returned to the polls to decide which candidates would represent the state in the US Senate—and, by extension, which party would control Congress for the next two years. Early this morning, national outlets declared Reverend Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, the winner of... Continue reading at Columbia Journalism Review

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2021-01-06 15:02:37 UTC ]
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Nick Hern signs actor Terara's Hamilton journal

Theatre publisher Nick Hern Books is releasing a “joyous” personal account of the London production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit “Hamilton” by its award-winning star Giles Terera. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-23 04:50:41 UTC ]
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Mian and Mitchell among 2021 Hachette Children's Novel Award judges

Children’s author Zanib Mian, Waterstones children’s category specialist Georgina Mitchell, literary agent Hellie Ogden and Hachette Children’s Group’s senior commissioning editor Tig Wallace are to judge the Hachette Children’s Novel Award in 2021. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-18 18:51:25 UTC ]
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