“According to Mr. Bailey, the first thing Mr. Roth wanted to know was what qualified a gentile from Oklahoma to write his biography. “I pointed out that I’m not an aging bisexual alcoholic with an ancient Puritan lineage and I still managed to write a biography of John Cheever,” he said.” – Philip Roth is getting a biography. It might take ten years, but so what?

Daniel Mendelsohn has a Neoclassical problem.

Granta talks to Zadie Smith.

Dorothy Parker writing letters to her editor.

Steve Stern on teaching in Vilnius.

“Strange Fruit” and the story of Abel Meeropol.

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