Think You Know John?

Where was Updike born? What did he do in college? What did he want to be before he became a writer? How many times has he appeared on the cover of Time magazine? Take the John Updike test.

The King Of Cricklewood Is No More

Sad news: Alan Coren, former Punch editor and one of the masters of the humourous essay, died last week. Here are appreciations by former associates and fellow satirists Michael Bywater and Miles Kington.

Carver Uncut

Opinions were divided last week over Tess Gallagher's decision to reissue, in original form, the stories of her late husband Raymond Carver before Gordon Lish "edited" them to come up with that signature minimalist style.

What's less well-known, however, is that Lish used his blue pencil on the titles of Carver's stories, too. This blog has unearthed five such examples: remember, you read it here first.

Carver's title: Will You Please Be Quiet Please, Otherwise I Think I’ll Have To Go One More Time To The Neighbourhood Pub To Get Myself A Bourbon (Or Three)
The Lish version: Will You Please Be Quiet Please

Carver's title: Raindrops On Roses And Whiskers On Kittens Are Some Examples Of What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.
The Lish version: What We Talk About When We Talk About Love

Carver's title: Clatskanie, Oregon (Is Where I’m Calling From)
The Lish version: Where I’m Calling From

Carver's title: It’s A Good Thing We’re Not in New Orleans, Tess, Otherwise There’d Be So Much Water So Close To Home
The Lish version: So Much Water So Close To Home

Carver's title: You Can’t Bring That Elephant Into this House, What Do You Think It Is, A Cathedral?
The Lish version: Cathedral