Cover Stories: Independent ahead on Orange; Arvon Poetry Competition; Peter Jackson; Bill Clinton's keynote speech
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Much confusion this week in the out-of-touch newspapers which deemed Andrea Levy's well-deserved Orange Prize win to be a major "literary upset" for a "low-rated novel" by a rank outsider. Independent readers who enjoyed Christie Hickman's profile of Levy back in February will have been much better informed. The Orange victory, for her novel of migration and settlement Small Island, also gives a timely boost to Hodder Headline's excellent Review imprint, in which Levy stars with writers such as Maggie O'Farrell, Sue Gee and Susie Boyt.
Much confusion this week in the out-of-touch newspapers which deemed Andrea Levy's well-deserved Orange Prize win to be a major "literary upset" for a "low-rated novel" by a rank outsider. Independent readers who enjoyed Christie Hickman's profile of Levy back in February will have been much better informed. The Orange victory, for her novel of migration and settlement Small Island, also gives a timely boost to Hodder Headline's excellent Review imprint, in which Levy stars with writers such as Maggie O'Farrell, Sue Gee and Susie Boyt.
Aspiring poets can enter the 12th Arvon International Poetry Competition: the cost is £7 per poem, and all money goes towards supporting attendees on Arvon courses. The first winner, in 1980, was Andrew Motion, now Poet Laureate, and the first prize is now £5,000. The closing date is 12 August. Details at www.arvonfoundation.org
Having completed the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the director Peter Jackson is at work on a version of King Kong. But when that's in the can, the multi-Oscar winner will embark on an adaptation of Alice Sebold's best-selling The Lovely Bones.
The big event at Chicago's BookExpoAmerica last weekend was Bill Clinton's keynote speech. He spoke for 45 minutes (twice as long as planned) and mesmerised hearers with his proud advocacy of books and libraries. He promised "lots of personal stuff" in his memoirs but said the imminent volume was really "the story of America and my own little part in it". He talked, too, about the need to protect free speech and the risks of the USA Patriot Act, which went down well with his left-leaning book-business audience of 3,000.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments