From the Magazine

Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim discusses writing and Egypt; UVA English professor defends higher education; the feuds and influences that define V. S. Naipaul; and other news. 

The Los Angeles Times reports e-books helped increase overall United States book sales; David Haglund explains the fabricated claim that Dostoevsky met with Charles Dickens; Wendy Francis pens a letter to an aspiring author; and other news.

The Academy of American Poets has elected Claudia Rankine, Marilyn Nelson, and C. D. Wright to its board of chancellors; the American Booksellers Association added forty new independent bookstores in 2012; poet and novelist Julianna Baggott's bestselling Pure is set for adaptation by Twilight producer Karen Rosenfelt; and other news.

Ruth Padel, the poet chosen ten days ago to become the first female professor of poetry at Oxford University, resigned yesterday after admitting she alerted newspaper reporters to sexual harassment allegations against poet Derek Walcott, who subsequently dropped out of the race for the post.