American Food Writing: An Anthology with Classic Recipes is a fun book to have on hand under any circumstances. But if you’re going to prepare turkey tomorrow, it could be a crucial resource. Thanksgiving, for reasons I won’t bore you with here, was my least favorite day of the entire year growing up. I lay awake worrying about it months . . .
A newly-discovered Edith Wharton letter revives the debate about Lily Bart’s death — and points to suicide.
If, as Virginia Woolf suggested, visits to an author’s home ought to be condemned as sentimental journeys, seeking information about a favorite writer’s diet must be the lowest form of literary boondoggle. I have some sympathy for this line of reasoning. After all, knowing Emily Dickinson’s black cake recipe doesn’t get you closer to the ultimate meaning of her poems. . . .
Oh frabjous day! James Hynes is blogging. His first post is about the new animated Beowulf in 3-D.
The Smart Set is a weekly feature, compiled by Lauren Cerand, that usually appears Mondays at 12:30pm and highlights the best of the week to come. Special favor is given to New York’s independent booksellers and venues, and low-cost and free events. Please send details to lauren [at] maudnewton.com by the Thursday prior to publication, with the date in the . . .