IT'S HAPPENING TONIGHT; or, FOR THE RECORD

the literary drunk: a description of both the event and its participants. it's exciting, and it's happening tonight. i'm also excited to get a new stack of translated novels for review and speculation -- but not of the financial sort, because although i'll gladly buy an unedited proof if i find one of interest on the shelves, you won't find me selling mine, literary drunk or not.

then, what luck! i'm led to this guardian article that cites a complaint from nobelist orhan pamuk that, "the majority of human experience is being ignored because the literature that describes it is not written in english." "even other major european languages find it difficult to get an english audience for their work," pamuk was quoted at a literary festival in jaipur. "the english are famously tardy and unreceptive towards other languages, and it is particularly hard to get american publishing houses to take on translations." here, here. we'll toast you tonight. (i don't, however, think i'll have time for the museum of innocence any time soon. from your comments i understand that you'd prefer we work to illuminate more marginalized works.)

but also wait: pamuk, well known and widely read in translation, "also accused literary critics of constantly trying to 'provincialise' his work." an inspiring call to arms but also a caution against carelessness in my speculation. thank you, mr. pamuk. you'll get your name on another round.

thank you also for winning that prize. i bought the black book only a couple of months before the announcement, and now a copy of the same edition(?) i have is behind glass for $75.00 at powell's. an unedited proof. a smart buy. maybe i'll have to reconsider that will to sell. but not for the record.