Episode 151: Judith Thurman - Writing at "The New Yorker"

About this episode

Judith Thurman discusses her writing career and experiences at The New Yorker.

Judith Thurman is a staff writer at "The New Yorker," and the author of many books, including "Isak Dinesen: The Life of a Storyteller " and " Secrets of the Flesh: A Life of Colette." ------------ Keep Talking Substack Spotify Apple Podcasts Social media and all episodes ------------ (00:00) “How’d you get to be that thing you are?”—origin story (02:18) Precocious reader, teacher mom, “foreordained” to write (04:52) Yes-and-no confidence; from drivel to good (07:10) Poet in Europe: barmaid, tutor, no money (09:48) 1970s NYC—dangerous, electric, cheap rent, first bylines (12:22) Nation → Ms. magazine → journalism takes off (14:05) Knocking on The New Yorker’s door; Gottlieb says yes (16:40) How a New Yorker piece gets made—editors, rewrites, heat (19:12) Subjects and boundaries: strong & “lost” women (21:58) Emily Wilson to Vanessa Beecroft; fasting spa detour (24:41) Writing (against) Gertrude Stein; Handmaid’s Tale hindsight (27:20) Why Stein’s “cult” endures—salon as tourist attraction (29:58) Anne Frank’s freedom to feel; the monumental annotation (32:36) Amelia Earhart—image-making, legend, and dying young (34:28) Biographies as marriages; choosing a life to live with…

People in this episode

Host: Dan Riley

Guest: Judith Thurman

Topics covered

• writing
• journalism
• literature
• biography
• feminism
• cultural commentary

Keywords

• Judith Thurman
• The New Yorker
• writing
• journalism
• biography
• feminism
• literature
• Gertrude Stein
• Anne Frank
• Amelia Earhart

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The New Yorker

Books & works: Isak Dinesen: The Life of a Storyteller, Secrets of the Flesh: A Life of Colette, Handmaid’s Tale

Places: Kenya

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