So the PW list of the best books of 2009 doesn't include any women writers. The whole thing feels inescapably done there/been that to me: the list itself, the feminist outrage, the clueless defense, and then the discussion about how women's work is individually and categorically undervalued. This is a dance that has had more performances than The Nutcracker (no pun intended). It feels past time to turn the page, start a new conversation. But how can we when the all-male achievement lists keep… Continue

How many authors does it take to create a monster? Random House recently published a new edition of the novel Frankenstein with a surprising change: Mary Shelley is no longer identified as the novel’s sole author. Instead, the cover reads “Mary Shelley (with Percy Shelley).” Why is Percy now getting marquee billing? It’s a significant moment in the long-running struggle to determine the true author (or authors) of what is considered one of the most important novels ever written. And it… Continue