Posted on January 19, 2021 at 2:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek
In school, we studied the romantic, realism, and modernist periods of literature.
Our grandchildren may find themselves leaning about the epistolary period off literature — featuring many an open letter.
The latest example is one written by author Barry Lyga, calling on US publishers not to sign book deals with members of the Trump administration.
At the time of this post, at least five hundred American authors and literary professionals have signed it.
Lyga’s letter cites the administration’s treatment of migrant children and women, its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and its role in the US Capitol riots, as reasons not to enrich Trump staffers.
It compares its call for a boycott to the Son of Sam laws, written to prevent criminals from making money off books about the crimes they committed.
The letter itself is on Lyga’s website; for wider context about and media takes on the letter, check out the Guardian and The Passive Voice; and for a primer on censorship, we like this post from the American Civil Liberties Union.
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Categories: Today in Books