As we go through life, some other books are worth returning to. Chow down on crab cakes with pulitzer prizewinning book. He was once chosen bywashingtonian magazine as one of the twentyfive smartest people in our nations capital but, as michael says, you have to consider the competition. Washington post book world senior editor michael dirda takes your questions and comments concerning literature, books and the joys of reading. Set in alternate tudor england, sin eater by megan campisi is a riveting tale of female empowerment. Michael dirda is a columnist for the washington post book world. Coming of age in the heartland pays homage to a bookish youth spent in smalltown. A popular lecturer and commencement speaker, he lives with his family in silver. May 02, 2006 book by book is a goulash of recommendations, opinions, quotations and other gems of literary, visual and musical arts michael dirda has compiled or written. Oct 23, 2006 when michael dirda took this summer off, discerning readers of the washington post book world were most likely disappointed. Since 1993washington post book world has published a monthly column by michael dirda called readings.
Course work in medieval studies, european romanticism, and literary theory. A year of reading, collecting, and living with books. Michael is a pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world with a special love for genre fiction. Michael dirda, a pulitzerwinning critic and longtime columnist for washington post book world shares his love of literature and books in book by book. A book lover revisits his past and celebrates the present. Post book world print edition postmortem books to the. Washington post book world, postscript books to the ceiling. A year of reading, collecting, and living with books, a collection of his essays on the book world. None of them could match signet or penguin in terms of quality. The procedure is to send a copy of the book and pertinent information to.
Mar, 2020 in todays washington post, michael dirda recommended a grab bag of books from horror and specialty pressesand one of them was the monkeys other paw, a recent anthology which contained a story of mine. Dirda s name appears weekly in the post s book world. He has been a fulbright fellow and won a pulitzer prize in 1993. In the end, the dark materials trilogy is an ode to the joy of living in a physical world, a hymn to flesh, to exuberance, to the here and now, to free thought, imagination.
This is an effortless read and it ignites the passion for classics in me. Having studied at oberlin college for his undergraduate degree in 1970, dirda took an m. I experienced a number of pleasant surprises that added even more the value of this book to me. Michael dirda is a pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world and the author of the memoir an open book and of four collections of. Hes the author of the memoir an open book, plus four collections of essays. The bearable lightness of michael dirda washington free beacon. From humble beginnings in the ohio rust belt town of lorain to a top post at one of the nations most prestigious newspapers, dirdas world has always percolated with words.
Michael dirda is a pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world and the author of the memoir an open book and of four collections of essays. From the outset of this easyreading book, its clear dirda invested a lot of time and thought in preparing this broad compendium of. Michael dirda received the pulitzer prize for his literary criticism in the washington post book world. His latest book, on conan doyle, was published in 2011 by princeton university press. Dirda, who has worked as a writer and editor at the washington post book world. Book world, reimagined short stack the washington post. By michael dirda, special to the washington post sunday mar 29, 2020 at 3. In 2009, after 37 years, with great reader outcries and protest, the washington post book world as a standalone insert was discontinued, the last issue being sunday, february 15, 2009, along with a general reorganization of the paper, such as placing the sunday editorials on the back page of the main front section rather than the outlook.
Longtime washington post book world staff writer and pulitzerwinning critic dirda writes a guide to reading and its life lessons ranging widely and pithily through the universal themes of. A showcase of one hundred of the worlds most astonishing books, bound to. Aug 28, 2015 the bearable lightness of michael dirda. Jan 29, 2009 washington posts book world goes out of print as a separate section. Sign me up for news about michael dirda and more from penguin random house. Michael dirda born 1948 is a book critic for the washington post. Washington posts book world goes out of print as a separate. Keep an eye out for the new washington post book world book clubthe first six books will be announced shortly, and you might want to consdier adopting them for your own reading.
A year of reading, collecting, and living with books by michael dirda is a very highly recommended bookish book and perfect for bibliophiles. The post has distinguished itself through its political reporting on the workings of the white house, congress, and other aspects of the u. In praise of pretty books, including a new edition. Pulitzer prizewinning writer michael dirda is one of the main reasons i read the washington post book world every sunday. In the evenings i check out the latest offerings from local booksellers. By michael dirda you would think that a guy who has spent decades with.
A year of reading, collecting and living with books. Weekly book columnist for the washington post and former writer and senior editor for the washington post book world. He does not only speak of classic but covers contemporary works as well, ranging from cicero to dr. Michael dirda is a pulitzer prizewinning critic and longtime book columnist for the washington post. A fulbright fellow and pulitzer prizewinning critic, dirda has written a memoir and the fulllength study on. A showcase of one hundred of the world s most astonishing books, bound to please is an extraordinary onevolume literary education. As you probably know from reading the news from the post and the new york times, feb. He is the author of the memoir an open book 2003 and several collections of essays, including book by book 2005 and classics for pleasure 2007.
Alas, i never saw any oxford worlds classics or anchor books until i went off to. Michael dirdas name appears weekly in the posts book world section. Walden may be the most famous act of social distancing. A popular lecturer and commencement speaker, he lives with his family in silver spring, maryland. Articles by michael dirda the washington post journalist muck. Critic michael dirda takes us on a tour of the literary haunts of his. Michael dirda interview a love affair with books youtube. Michael dirda is a pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world who has written several books in addition to this one. Readings literary entertainments michael dirda the best of the column, readings, fromwashington post book world, by pulitzer prizewinner michael dirda. A longtime contributor to the washington post book world, he is also the author of bound to please, readings, and a memoir. Dirda, columnist for the washington post book world and a recipient of the pulitzer prize for his lucid, expert, and just criticism, traces the book strewn path that led to his life as a literary journalist with a wistful sense of wonder and. He has been an editor and writer for the washington post book world for the past twenty years. This interview with pulitzer prize winning author and literary critic michael dirda is from fast forward.
John sutherland an expert on popular fiction sent the washington posts book world his list of the 20 worst bestsellers of the 20th century. Dirda, a distinguished book critic at the washington post book world, continues his campaign to educate readers. If you need more of an explanation, it is a collection of fifty essays that dirda wrote between february 2012. The master of the supernatural december 22, 2016 issue the face of the earth and other imaginings. Dirda on books hosted by michael dirda washington post staff writer wednesday, april 28, 1999 appearing every wednesday at 2pm in the books section, michael takes your questions and comments concerning literature, books and the joys of reading. Unable to browse actual bookstore shelves during this time of lockdown, ive done what most of us now do gone online. Michael dirda of the washington post the pulitzer prizes. In 1978 dirda started writing for the washington post.
A popular lecturer and commencement speaker, he lives wit. Once we finally graduate, we store our college texts in our parents attic and never look at them again. A delightful compendium of dirda s most memorable washington post book world essays revels in seven years worth of bibliophilic passion although the 46 literary entertainments collected here range widely in topic and in tone from the nostalgic reminiscences of the crime of his life to the wry apocalyptic musings of millennial readings, dirda s hearty enthusiasm and. My parents were washington post subscribers, and every sunday his column in the post s book world molded my. In his fourth book, this wellread, wellintentioned generalist presents a commonplace collection of excerpts from admired works gathered under topical headings. He is the author of a memoir, five collections of essays, and a prizewinning book about arthur conan doyle. Pulitzer prizewinning book critic michael dirda talks about his book browsings. Book by book is a goulash of recommendations, opinions, quotations and other gems of literary, visual and musical arts michael dirda has compiled or written. In 1977 the events at poroth farm won the first world fantasy.
Est, dirda takes your questions and comments concerning literature, books and. The bearable lightness of michael dirda washington free. Feb 27, 2009 washington post book world, postscript. Readings, bound to please, book by book and classics for pleasure. Michael dirda is the winner of the 1993 pulitzer prize for criticism. Mar, 2020 michael is a pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world with a special love for genre fiction. Michael dirda, a longtime staff writer for the washington post book world, received the 1993 pulitzer prize for criticism. Michael dirda, who won a pulitzer prize for distinguished criticism at the washington post book world, is the author of an open book, bound to please, and readings. You may also telephone for submission criteria 2023347882. Michael dirda, a pulitzer prizewinning book columnist for the washington post, is the author of five collections of essaysreadings, bound to please, book by book, classics for pleasure and browsingsand of the memoir an open book. Articles by michael dirda the washington post journalist. Michael dirda, a longtime literary critic for the washington post book world, has produced several collections of his literary criticism and thoughts about writing. Aug 10, 2015 dirda has been eloquently guiding washington post readers to great books since 1978.
Michael dirda talked about his book classics for pleasure harcourt. Dirda on books hosted by michael dirda washington post staff writer wednesday, april 5, 2000 every wednesday at 2 p. From the outset of this easyreading book, its clear dirda invested a lot of time and thought in preparing this broad compendium of his favorites. The great age of storytelling knopf, forthcoming browsings. A year of reading, collecting, and living with books new york. Michael dirda is a fulbright fellowship recipient and pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world. My parents were washington post subscribers, and every sunday his column in the posts book world molded my adolescent literary taste by providing a. Essays and literary entertainments, dirda assembles fortysix of his best essays all of his book world editorial columns are good to delight the reader who, like him, is an incurable book aficionado. The worlds greatest mystery writers on the worlds greatest mystery novels. The book is, of course, james crumleys the last good kiss absolutely unforgettable, utterly heartbreaking.