Essay Photos by Mai Al-Nakib / Courtesy of the author Civilizations, empires, dynasties, and monarchies end, leaving behind ruins of their fabled splendor. Traces of achievements become more or less decipherable, contingent upon the mercy of elements and vagaries of time. Global ascents have been awesome. The point, however, is that no matter how accomplished or established the power, no matter how seemingly eternal, its passing is guaranteed. In the shadow of World War II, Walter Benjamin described the angel of history with his face turned toward the past: “Where we perceive a chain of events, he sees one single catastrophe which keeps piling wreckage upon wreckage.” Unlike most of us, the angel of history takes the long view. He bears witness to the rising debris, which periodically may initiate a state of emergency, such as genocide or war. Whether this state of emergency brings about radical transformation or more of the same cannot be determined in advance. A cursory archaeology of our planetary ruins reveals the latter to be the case more frequently. Any citizen of a failing nation-state adopting the angel of history’s long view must ask herself a series of sobering questions. Given its recent past, the parameters of its present, and the constitution of its population and leadership, how likely is it that the kind of sweeping change a country needs in order to survive will occur? Have the sacrifices of the many over... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'
[ World Literature Today | 2021-07-07 12:48:10 UTC ]
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The latest longlist for the biennial Warwick Prize for Writing (£25,000) has pitted... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kai John spent his life savings to buy the rights to Atlas Shrugged and have it retranslated into German. Here, he reflects on his decision and its reception. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ana Sampson, co-author of The Book Club Bible, tells The World At One's Martha Kearney about the do's and dont's of literary circles. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2012-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Romantic fiction bestsellers including Katie Fforde, Freya North and Jill Mansell have all made... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It was a chance chauffeur job, shuttling a bored author back to his hotel room, that got Dan Halpern into publishing. The author was Paul Bowles, it was the late 1960s, and Halpern agreed to take the writer on the long drive back to Santa Monica when Bowles tired of the party hed been thrown at... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Fri, 30/09/2011 - 10:51 Faber has acquired a new novel by award-winning Egyptian writer Miral Al-Tahawy. Editorial director Hannah Griffiths acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Elizabeth Sheinkman at Curtis Brown to Al-Tahawy's fourth... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Push Pop Press, the brainchild of two former Apple engineers, just got a boost from an innovative former U.S. vice president. After having invented the Internet, Al Gore is back to reinvent the book. Push Pop Press is a digital tool taking books to the next level, making them even more... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2011-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Push Pop Press, a digital book publishing platform, went live with its first title this week, Al Gore's "Our Choice," available as an iOS app for $4.99. Continue reading at AllThingsD
[ AllThingsD | 2011-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Fri, 11/03/2011 - 15:46 Canongate has bought three books by the Egyptian writer Alaa Al Aswany, including one on the recent revolution in Egypt. Publishing director Anya Serota bought UK & Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada, ANZ and India) to a... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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