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 . . .
Having some trouble conjuring up the usual Monday morning papier-mâchè cubicle smile here, so I’ll refer you to Mr. Maud’s three–part diary of our Austin trip. In short: we ate our weight in breakfast tacos, hung out with friends, supped with James Hynes and his friend Mimi, and experienced Artz with Hayden Childs. Also, Max(x) performed, and I did (emergency) . . .
Stephan Clark’s “A Literary Purge,” on teaching English literature and creative writing at a Ukrainian university, opens not with a knock on the door but a call to his mobile phone.
The University of Iowa’s Borges Center hosts a conference on the Argentinian writer next week. Events are free and open to the public.
Gary Indiana’s blistering critique of Clive James’ Cultural Amnesia further whets my curiosity. (Thanks, Andrew.)