ranters and ravers

John Sutherland Chickens Out, Will Not Eat His Copy of ‘The Enchantress of Florence’!

Neil Campell’s ZERO nyc (2008).

Back in April, reviewing Salman Rushdie’s most recent novel in the pages of the Financial Times, book critic John Sutherland — even though he admitted to not understanding its plot — made this bold promise: “If The Enchantress of Florence doesn’t win this year’s Man Booker I’ll curry my proof copy and eat it.” Today, however, after the Rushdie-less Booker short list was announced, Sutherland reneged: “I vowed — publicly — to curry and eat my proof copy of The Enchantress of Florence if it didn’t win. It won’t. And I won’t. So there.” Shameful! We suppose we could understand if he were backing out of eating a tough, chewy stitch-bound hardcover first edition — but this is a soft-cover proof copy! Those things are delicious!

Of Medicis and Mughals [FT]
A historical year for the Booker prize [Guardian]

Earlier: Booker Prize Short List Announced!
Booker Prize Long List Announced; Can Anything Beat ‘Netherland’?

John Sutherland Chickens Out, Will Not Eat His Copy of ‘The Enchantress of Florence’!