Fiction v nonfiction – English literature's made-up divide

Some cultures do not distinguish between fiction and nonfiction – and instead talk of ‘stories’. Is that a barrier to English-language writers and publishers? Or should they just learn to enjoy telling tales?There’s a mighty canyon that runs down the middle of the world of the word, carving through bookshops, libraries and literary prizes, splitting them into fiction and nonfiction. Those who try to build bridges over this fissure may find themselves – like Geoff Dyer – rejecting the terms on which they are read, or, like Sheila Heti, arguing with their own book jackets. Those who are caught on the wrong side of the divide are attacked as frauds, pillioried or even – like James Frey – hounded out of their homes. Related: Julian Barnes: 'Biographical novels are kind of cheesy' The art is in the telling … the best storyteller is the one who recreates the anxiety of expectation and fulfils it[The distinction] serves as a useful guide to the kind of experience the reader is wanting to have Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #literary prizes #build bridges #geoff dyer #sheila heti #book jackets #wrong side #james frey #julian barnes

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Fiction v nonfiction – English literature's made-up divide'


Fiction v nonfiction – English literature's made-up divide

Some cultures do not distinguish between fiction and nonfiction – and instead talk of ‘stories’. Is that a barrier to English-language writers and publishers? Or should they just learn to enjoy telling tales?There’s a mighty canyon that runs down the middle of the world of the word, carving... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary prizes #build bridges #geoff dyer #sheila heti #book jackets #wrong side #james frey #julian barnes


National Book Award 2014 nominees for fiction, nonfiction, poetry and young people's literature are announced

Works that were nominated include 'The Innovators' by Walter Isaacson and 'Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?' by Roz Chast for the nonfiction prize as well as 'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr and 'Station Eleven' by Emily St. John Mandel for the fiction award. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nonfiction prize #fiction award #walter isaacson #roz chast #anthony doerr #station eleven #emily st #john mandel


Survey: Translated Fiction Outsells English Fiction in the UK

'Currently 25 percent of our top 20 fiction titles are translated,' we learn from Waterstones. It appears that UK readers are surprisingly into international books. The post Survey: Translated Fiction Outsells English Fiction in the UK appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Women’s prize for fiction is a success – now it has a nonfiction sister | Kate Mosse

On International Women’s Day Kate Mosse, co-founder of the Women’s prize for fiction and bestselling author of Labyrinth, heralds a new honour Gloria Steinem said: “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2024-03-08 12:30:02 UTC ]
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Why Taylor Swift belongs on English literature degree courses

Miss Americana has been discussed in English literature classes for some years now – sometimes alongside Shakespeare. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2024-01-02 11:01:25 UTC ]
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Two novels share Pulitzer in fiction as 'His Name Is George Floyd' wins for nonfiction

Two novels, "Demon Copperhead" and "Trust," shared the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction while "His Name Is George Floyd" took home the nonfiction prize. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-05-08 21:55:41 UTC ]
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December Religion Bestsellers: ‘Faith Still Moves Mountains’ #1 in Nonfiction; Rivers Reigns in Fiction

Fox News host Harris Faulkner’s ‘Faith Still Moves Mountains’ remains in the #1 spot on PW’s Religion Nonfiction Bestsellers list for December; Francine Rivers takes three spots on Religion Fiction. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-11 05:00:00 UTC ]
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October Religion Bestsellers: David Jeremiah Tops in Nonfiction; ‘Deception’ Rules Fiction

Megachurch pastor and bestselling author David Jeremiah takes #1 on PW’s Religion Nonfiction Bestsellers List with his newest title, ‘The World of the End.’ In Religion Fiction, Amir Tsarfati tops with ‘By Way of Deception,’ based on real events inspired by Israel's national intelligence agency. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-09 05:00:00 UTC ]
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How War Literature Occupies the Realms of Both Fact and Fiction

Sometimes in interviews I catch myself speaking of my book of short stories about the Iraq War as though it is a kind of literary journalism. I want people to think about their recent history, imagine the lives of soldiers, and get a sense of what it’s like to go to war. And I do […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-05-17 08:53:40 UTC ]
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Here’s the shortlist for the 2022 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction.

Today, the American Library Association announced the 2022 shortlist for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction. The awards, established in 2012, celebrate the best books in fiction and nonfiction for adult readers, and will honor each winner with $5000. The... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-11-08 16:19:31 UTC ]
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‘Dune’ has long divided the science fiction world. The new film won’t change that.

Frank Herbert’s magnum opus: masterful or clumsy? Denis Villeneuve’s movie continues the debate. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-10-21 13:13:42 UTC ]
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A Guide To Finding The Best Free Online English Literature Courses

A guide that can serve as a starting point to help you find interesting, relevant and fascinating free online english literature courses. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-09-21 10:40:00 UTC ]
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Madrid’s ‘Desperate Literature’ Short Fiction Prize: Paige Cowan-Hall

The fourth outing of the award produced by the Desperate Literature bookshop in Madrid features work centered on colonial oppression. The post Madrid’s ‘Desperate Literature’ Short Fiction Prize: Paige Cowan-Hall appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-08-13 21:40:40 UTC ]
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Early Medieval English literature was a sordid swamp of wanton plagiarism!

It turns out 12th-century British scholars (monks, really, we’re mainly talking monks, here) had absolutely no problem borrowing “long passages” from whatever manuscripts they could get their hands on, and would freely plagiarize the writings of continental scholars. Of course, plagiarism then... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-05-11 14:10:25 UTC ]
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7 NYT Fiction and Nonfiction Bestsellers from 2011

A lot has changed since 2011! From book club picks to political memoirs, here were the NYT bestsellers from a decade ago. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-03-12 11:32:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #political memoirs #decade ago #book club


Trying to Teach English Literature in the Wake of Mao’s Cultural Revolution

My assignment was to offer a survey course on the history of English literature in northeast China. I was paired with a young American teacher sponsored by the United Nations who was to teach phonetics and oral expression. We taught six days a week, and every Wednesday afternoon our students... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-01-15 09:49:40 UTC ]
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Here’s every winner of the National Book Award for Fiction and Nonfiction during the 21st century.

Dust off your formal wear and break out the bubbly because the National Book Awards (a.k.a. the Oscars of the book world) are nearly upon us. Yes, in just a few short hours, five dumbstruck authors will be fêted, garlanded, and welcomed into the American literary pantheon. For those of you... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-11-18 17:04:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #21st century #book world #literary hub #national book award


Here’s the shortlist for the 2021 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction.

Let’s start our morning right with the latest book news. Today, the American Library Association announced the shortlist of the 2021 Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction, which honors the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. in the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-11-17 15:48:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nonfiction books #literary hub #library association


The real reason Jay Manuel from ‘ANTM’ made his debut novel fiction, not a memoir

For 18 seasons, he served as creative director and producer of the global phenomenon ‘America’s Next Top Model.’ But his debut novel isn’t the juicy tell-all you might’ve expected. Makeup artist and stylist Jay Manuel has spent more than 20 years in the fashion industry, most famously serving as... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2020-08-03 12:15:52 UTC ]
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10 of the Best Ballads in English Literature

Traditionally, a ballad was a song that was designed to be danced to, as the etymology of the word, Provençal balada meaning ‘dance, song to dance to’, ultimately from late Latin ballare. The great British ballads – and we say ‘British’ because many of them were Scottish rather than English... Continue reading at Interesting Literature

[ Interesting Literature | 2020-06-14 14:00:45 UTC ]
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