The Prose Factory by DJ Taylor review – beware the suggestion that literary life isn’t what it used to be

The truth about book prizes, why Amazon is like an old-fashioned library and how much famous writers really earned from their journalism …Periodically, signs go up saying that Grub Street is closed to through traffic. Observers speculate that the street is being redeveloped as gentrification forces the former inhabitants to move out, or else that the closure may be due to the expansion of the neighbouring university’s English department. Older heads are shaken in what had been the local pub but is now a coffee’n’crafts shop: there used to be more life in the place, they mourn, when bohemian writers could dash off a review against the clock to pay for their round. Even if Grub Street is eventually reopened, it will never be the same again, and anyway it will probably have been renamed “Creatives Crescent”.Such cliches and exaggerations are characteristic of this genre of lament. Like most keening for the good old days, these threnodies are not pieces of dispassionate historical analysis: they are attempts to compensate for so much that is disagreeable about one’s own time by inventing a more or less idealised version of the past. Still, it is worth wondering why “Grub Street” should be the form taken by paradise lost in this case. After all, the street originally so named in London (it was real before it was metaphorical) came to be the home of that kind of “grub” defined by the OED as “a person of mean abilities; a dull industrious drudge; a literary hack”. Even allowing... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-01-09 00:00:00 UTC ]

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Seth Satterlee Named New PW Religion Reviews Editor

Publishers Weekly has a new spirituality and religion reviews editor: Seth Satterlee. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Seeing Stars: Top Spirituality and Religion Book Reviews, April 2015

A lyrical consideration of finding God in everyday experiences, and a story of evolving from the 'crusader complex' to a more considered faith are among PW's spirituality and religion picks for April. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Reviews of New and Forthcoming Spirituality and Religion Books, April 8, 2015

Inspirational romantic suspense novelist Dee Henderson returns with another tale of a kidnapping survivor; Judith Regan's new imprint offers a memoir from conservative writer Rod Dreher. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Male writers continue to dominate literary criticism, Vida study finds

Women buy two-thirds of books sold but magazine reviews are centred on male authors and critics – though picture is beginning to changeThe continuing bias towards men in the British and American literary establishment has been confirmed by a study released on Tuesday.Vida, a US organisation... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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TV review: Netflix's dark 'Daredevil' takes the superhero origin story to new heights

Daredevil can't see you, but he knows you're coming. His new show is so good, it might catch comic book fans by surprise. Continue reading at Baltimore Sun

[ Baltimore Sun | 2015-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Taylor & Francis appoint global publishing director

Taylor & Francis Group has appointed Leon Heward-Mills as global publishing director, journals, taking on a leadership role for the worldwide editorial team. Heward-Mills joins Taylor & Francis from Society of Endocrinology, where he was chief executive and m.d. of its commercial... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BuzzFeed Launches Emerging Writers Fellowship: An Interview with Literary Editor Saeed Jones

BuzzFeed is going literary. The ever-growing media company launched BuzzFeed Books in December of 2013, and this year it is launching several projects under new Literary Editor Saeed Jones. First up is the BuzzFeed Emerging Writers Fellowship pr ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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O/R Teams with 'Evergreen Review'

Independent publisher O/R Books has partnered with the literary magazine 'Evergreen Review,' in a deal which will see O/R distributing content from the magazine via the press's direct-to-consumer model. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary Agent Andrew Nurnberg Partners with Turkey’s AnatoliaLit

Leading UK literary agency Andrew Nurnberg Associates is partnering with Istanbul’s AnatoliaLit agency to expand the agency's activities in Turkey. The post Literary Agent Andrew Nurnberg Partners with Turkey’s AnatoliaLit appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Folio winner Family Life 'deserves recognition' says trade

Akhil Sharma’s Family Life (Faber) has finally gained the recognition it deserves by winning the Folio Prize, trade figures have told The Bookseller. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the prize said there will be conversations about the future of its funding this summer. Sharma’s novel, based... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Reviews of New and Forthcoming Spirituality and Religion Books, March 25, 2015

Rachel Held Evans offers astute reflections on faith; biologist Jerry Coyne argues that science has made religion obsolete. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Family Life paperback publication brought forward

Faber & Faber is to bring forward the paperback publication of Akhil Sharma’s Family Life after the book won the Folio Prize for Fiction yesterday (23rd March). The paperback was originally due to be released on 23rd April, but Faber will now release the title on 2nd April “to give... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hawks, butterflies, coasts and footpaths: how nature writing turned to literary gold

Books about the natural world are now huge sellers, tapping into a new appreciation for the countryside and scepticism about material wealthBondage is so last year. Publishers who spent much of the past year in search of the next Fifty Shades of Grey are now seeking to exploit another literary... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Netwars Brings Cyberterror to Life

Netwars/Out of Ctrl is a sprawling cross-platform media project about the global rise of cyberwarfare, combining pulse-pounding fictional narratives and sobering nonfiction research to bring the mounting dangers of cyberterrorism vividly to life. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BA welcomes 'radical' business rates review

The Booksellers Association has welcomed the launch of a “radical” review of the business rates system in the UK. The government revealed today (16th March) that the review had begun and would report back in time for the 2016 budget.  "The time has come for a radical review of this important... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Florida Antiquarian Book Fair Adds Literary Festival

The Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, set this year for March 13-15 at the St. Petersburg Coliseum, is already the oldest and largest event of its kind in the southeastern United States. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Reviews of New and Forthcoming Spirituality and Religion Books, March 11, 2015

Theologian Harvey Cox offers simple advice on reading the complex Bible; Pope Francis ponders Jesus and the life of faith. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The VéroK Literary Agency on Kids Book Biz Changes

The VéroK Agency represents children’s book publishers across Europe and the English-language markets and is seeing changes in who buys what where. The post The VéroK Literary Agency on Kids Book Biz Changes appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bestselling author Alice Hoffman's children's book, 'Nightbird,' receives mostly positive reviews

Hoffman's book tells the story of a girl whose family had a curse placed upon them and whose town is fearful of what they believe to be a monster living in their midst. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary Agent Q&A: Hellie Ogden, Janklow & Nesbit (UK)

Hellie Ogden of Janklow & Nesbit talks with Publishing Perspectives about some of her recent deals and opportunities she believes show promise for authors. The post Literary Agent Q&A: Hellie Ogden, Janklow & Nesbit (UK) appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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