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. He does not only speak of classic but covers contemporary works as well, ranging from cicero to dr. A book lover revisits his past and celebrates the present. A longtime contributor to the washington post book world, he is also the author of bound to please, readings, and a memoir. A popular lecturer and commencement speaker, he lives with his family in silver spring, maryland. He is the author of a memoir, five collections of essays, and a prizewinning book about arthur conan doyle. Jan 29, 2009 washington posts book world goes out of print as a separate section. Then i discovered a series of books by michael dirda, literary critic for the washington post.
Hes the author of the memoir an open book, plus four collections of essays. Walden may be the most famous act of social distancing. 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. Oct 23, 2006 when michael dirda took this summer off, discerning readers of the washington post book world were most likely disappointed. My parents were washington post subscribers, and every sunday his column in the posts book world molded my adolescent literary taste by providing a. A showcase of one hundred of the world s most astonishing books, bound to please is an extraordinary onevolume literary education. Michael dirda talked about his book classics for pleasure harcourt. Michael dirda, a longtime staff writer for the washington post book world, received the 1993 pulitzer prize for criticism.
Sign me up for news about michael dirda and more from penguin random house. Michael dirda is a pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world who has written several books in addition to this one. Set in alternate tudor england, sin eater by megan campisi is a riveting tale of female empowerment. The procedure is to send a copy of the book and pertinent information to.
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. If you need more of an explanation, it is a collection of fifty essays that dirda wrote between february 2012. Michael dirda received the pulitzer prize for his literary criticism in the washington post book world. The book is, of course, james crumleys the last good kiss absolutely unforgettable, utterly heartbreaking. Michael dirda is a pulitzer prizewinning critic and longtime book columnist for the washington post. By michael dirda you would think that a guy who has spent decades with. 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. 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.
In the evenings i check out the latest offerings from local booksellers. In 1978 dirda started writing for the washington post. A year of reading, collecting, and living with books, a collection of his essays on the book world. Articles by michael dirda the washington post journalist. Pulitzer prizewinning writer michael dirda is one of the main reasons i read the washington post book world every sunday. None of them could match signet or penguin in terms of quality. Washington post book world senior editor michael dirda takes your questions and comments concerning literature, books and the joys of reading. Michael dirda, a pulitzerwinning critic and longtime columnist for washington post book world shares his love of literature and books in book by book. 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. Readings literary entertainments michael dirda the best of the column, readings, fromwashington post book world, by pulitzer prizewinner michael dirda. Dirda s name appears weekly in the post s book world. A year of reading, collecting and living with books. 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. I experienced a number of pleasant surprises that added even more the value of this book to me.
A fulbright fellow and pulitzer prizewinning critic, dirda has written a memoir and the fulllength study on. Feb 27, 2009 washington post book world, postscript. A popular lecturer and commencement speaker, he lives with his family in silver. 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.
Articles by michael dirda the washington post journalist muck. 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. Michael dirda, a longtime literary critic for the washington post book world, has produced several collections of his literary criticism and thoughts about writing. The master of the supernatural december 22, 2016 issue the face of the earth and other imaginings. Book world, reimagined short stack the washington post. Est, dirda takes your questions and comments concerning literature, books and. Pulitzer prizewinning book critic michael dirda talks about his book browsings. Michael dirda is a columnist for the washington post book world. Unable to browse actual bookstore shelves during this time of lockdown, ive done what most of us now do gone online.
Michael is a pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world with a special love for genre fiction. As we go through life, some other books are worth returning to. He has been a fulbright fellow and won a pulitzer prize in 1993. 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. His latest book, on conan doyle, was published in 2011 by princeton university press. In 1977 the events at poroth farm won the first world fantasy. Michael dirda of the washington post the pulitzer prizes. The bearable lightness of michael dirda washington free. Post book world print edition postmortem books to the. Mar, 2020 michael is a pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world with a special love for genre fiction.
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. From the outset of this easyreading book, its clear dirda invested a lot of time and thought in preparing this broad compendium of. Aug 28, 2015 the bearable lightness of michael dirda. Since 1993washington post book world has published a monthly column by michael dirda called readings. Essays and literary entertainments, dirda gathers together his readings columns from the washington post book world. You may also telephone for submission criteria 2023347882. Michael dirda interview a love affair with books youtube. A popular lecturer and commencement speaker, he lives wit. The bearable lightness of michael dirda washington free beacon. Michael dirda is a fulbright fellowship recipient and pulitzer prizewinning columnist for the washington post book world.
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. For those who choose to explore classics for pleasure, i challenge you not to go running to your local bookstore or library to read the works of these authors. As you probably know from reading the news from the post and the new york times, feb. John sutherland an expert on popular fiction sent the washington posts book world his list of the 20 worst bestsellers of the 20th century. Michael dirda born 1948 is a book critic for the washington post. Aug 10, 2015 dirda has been eloquently guiding washington post readers to great books since 1978. For freelance assignments, speaking opportunities, and other inquiries, please use the form at left to contact me. A year of reading, collecting, and living with books. In praise of pretty books, including a new edition. 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, 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.
Coming of age in the heartland pays homage to a bookish youth spent in smalltown. He has been an editor and writer for the washington post book world for the past twenty years. Once we finally graduate, we store our college texts in our parents attic and never look at them again. Dirda, a distinguished book critic at the washington post book world, continues his campaign to educate readers. The worlds greatest mystery writers on the worlds greatest mystery novels. This interview with pulitzer prize winning author and literary critic michael dirda is from fast forward. Michael dirda is the winner of the 1993 pulitzer prize for criticism.
Washington post book world, postscript books to the ceiling. If you read book world online, you may not notice any change in our coverage at all and might even see some improvements. 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. Washington posts book world goes out of print as a separate. A year of reading, collecting, and living with books new york. Critic michael dirda takes us on a tour of the literary haunts of his. 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. 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. Course work in medieval studies, european romanticism, and literary theory. 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 post has distinguished itself through its political reporting on the workings of the white house, congress, and other aspects of the u.
Weekly book columnist for the washington post and former writer and senior editor for the washington post book world. Readings, bound to please, book by book and classics for pleasure. Dirda on books hosted by michael dirda washington post staff writer wednesday, april 5, 2000 every wednesday at 2 p. Alas, i never saw any oxford worlds classics or anchor books until i went off to. In his fourth book, this wellread, wellintentioned generalist presents a commonplace collection of excerpts from admired works gathered under topical headings. Dirda, who has worked as a writer and editor at the washington post book world. 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. A showcase of one hundred of the worlds most astonishing books, bound to. This is an effortless read and it ignites the passion for classics in me. Michael dirdas name appears weekly in the posts book world section.