George Orwell was born on this day in 1903.

How our favorite Scottish tennis star is like a character in a Kinks song.

“James was the favorite of his charming, cantankerous, and dissolute father, John Stanislaus Joyce, and was adored by his brothers and sisters. They called him Sunny Jim, because he laughed at everything.” – Louis Menand at The New Yorker on James Joyce’s chance encounters.

Al Burian’s dispatches from Berlin.

Jennifer Miller talks to The Rumpus.

Paul Theroux talks to Salon about traveling.

Follow Vol. 1 Brooklyn on Twitter, Facebook, Google + and our Tumblr.