Common Reading, By Stefan Collini
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.This collection of essays takes the same approach as its subjects, "figures [who] mostly attempted to sail a course between the rocks of journalistic superficiality and academic unreadability."
Too often, contemporary essays are tainted by the latter peril, but Collini, though a literature professor at Cambridge, writes with lively wit and insight. He suggests that Cyril Connolly has "become the sort of figure that trade publishers just love... At the mere sound of his name, [they] fantasise about flocks of 'general readers' rising like rooks from a field."
Considering Edmund Wilson, he notes that "it is all too easy to see him as the Sidney Greenstreet of literature." Penetrating, down-to-earth, often hilarious, these essays are perfect brain food for the New Year.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments