Sylvia Plath, Prison Writing, a Book Maze, and more
As always, it was a very busy week in the world of literature. This week's links reach across the globe, with news from Japan, Germany, France, and England.
News, Reviews, and Interviews
A report on the book market shows the impact of e-books on traditional trade books.
Kosovar Albanian poet and May 2012 WLT contributor Ali Podrimja was found dead in France after being missing for several days during a poetry festival. The interview "Finally, Ali Podrimja Spoke” by Adam J. Goldwyn and Rineta Hoxha can be found alongside three poems by Podrimja in the May 2012 issue of WLT.
In a new podcast by the New Yorker's Page Turner blog, Jack Hitt discusses what forensic linguistics can tell us about how we communicate.
The PEN American Center has hosted the Prison Writing Contest since 1971, inviting inmates across the country to send in essays, poetry, fiction, and drama pieces. Here are the winners for the 2012 contest.
A new dispatch from Words Without Borders discusses how Japanese translator Jocelyne Allen was drawn to the works of Toh Enjoe.
Sylvia Plath may be known for her poetry, but she was also an artist. View some of her pen-and-ink sketches from her exhibit at the Mayor Gallery in London.
For Your Calendar
The University of Pennsylvania is offering a free online poetry class that begins in September and runs for ten weeks.
For anyone in the Tulsa, OK area, New York Times best-selling author Pat Conroy will be at OSU Tulsa in September for Tulsa Reads.
The 2012 Man Booker Prize longlist was announced on Thursday, and the shortlist will be revealed in September.
Fun Finds and Inspiration
Ever wondered how an author chose his or her pseudonym? Here are a few of the stories behind authors like Jonathan Swift, Dr. Seuss, and the Brontë sisters.
Never judge a book by its cover, they say? This 6-year old obviously didn't get the memo.
You could really get yourself lost in this giant maze made completely out of books.
German photgrapher and designer Marcel Schindler filmed himself drawing Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea in stop motion back in April. We think it's still pretty awesome.
Find out what people are reading on their subway commute from the Underground New York Public Library.
A blog on Jane Austen's life presents three word cloud maps of famous authors' names in the shape of the countries in which they wrote.
"Skin" is a living art project that began last year. Each of the 2,095 volunteers are asked to place one word from a specific short story on their bodies.
If you're ever at a loss when it comes to gift-giving, this really cool online store might have the answer.
Have you seen the jurors and their nominees for the 2013 NSK Children's Literature Prize? The laureate will be announced in late September at the 2012 Neustadt Festival for International Literature and Culture.
