Posted on March 24, 2020 at 12:30 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
Oprah magazine writer Elena Nicolaou has a few theories on why a parody letter supposedly written by F. Scott Fitzgerald during a quarantine has fooled so many people.
For one, we could all use inspiration of any sort as we confront the coronavirus outbreak.
And specifically, we like seeing famous figures in circumstances that resonate with us.
But we at Fussy suspect the real thrill of the letter for many folks who missed that it’s the comedic work of McSweeney’s writer Nick Farriella is the jab it takes at Ernest Hemingway — calling him an influenza denier who isn’t much for washing his hands.
(Sorry, we’re Team Fitzgerald in this bookish battle.)
Read the tongue-in-cheek piece and the serious take on it on Oprah magazine’s website.
Categories: Today in Books