Iranian novelist Yaghoub Yadali responds to Philip Roth’s recent announcement of his retirement with a deeply honest letter addressed to the celebrated author. While Yadali understands Roth’s reasons for calling it quits, he explains why “for an Iranian writer, retirement is meaningless.”
Read more...
RCD – Former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali‘s political party – was dissolved in 2011 after the revolution. Here is Tunisian political cartoonist Tawfiq Omrane’s take on the RCD’s transformation and “comeback”.
Read more...
We look back at the most-read columns of 2013, featuring contributions from Tarik Günersel (Turkey), Bina Shah (Pakistan), Khet Mar (Burma), Israel Centeno (Venezuela), Hamdy el-Gazzar (Egypt), Tienchi Martin-Liao (China), Horacio Castellanos Moya (El Salvador), and Yaghoub Yadali (Iran).
Read more...
A look at Ai Weiwei – The Fake Case, a new documentary produced and directed by Danish filmmaker Andreas Johnsen. Chronicling Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei’s life from 2009-2012, it follows his release from solitary confinement and subsequent placement under house arrest in 2011.
Read more...
Today’s cartoon is by Elihu Duayer (Brazil). Sampsonia Way’s Cartoons section features cartoonists from around the world whose work offers unique political and social commentary, as well as sharp wit.
Read more...
In this segment of The Writer’s Block, French author Laurent Binet discusses his relationship with his editors, the risks of mixing history and fiction, and why he doesn’t make a distinction between author and narrator.
Read more...
In anticipation of the coming new year, Sampsonia Way looks back at the most-watched Writer’s Block video interviews of 2013. The Writer’s Block is an ongoing video series of interviews with visiting writers at City of Asylum/Pittsburgh.
Read more...
