Vanity Fair Editor David Rose: New York Times Article "Fabrication"

Vanity Fair (The Today Show) ^ | December 3, 2002 | David Rose

[an amused spectator]

While discussing an upcoming article in the December 2002 Vanity Fair, David Rose (senior editor/VF) tells Katie "The Affable One" Couric that a New York Times article from October 2002 about Czech President Havel's remarks on Iraq and hijacker Mohammed Atta is a "fabrication".

[js1138]

Well, gosh darn it, it just doesn't sound MANLY.

;^)

[EternalVigilance]

Vanity Fair was a fictional location in John Bunyan's famous allegorical novel, Pilgrim's Progress.

Indeed it was.

Pilgim's Progress is the second-best-selling book of all time---behind the Bible itself...and is in my opinion is the greatest work of English literature ever.

Bunyan's life story is exceedingly interesting...he wrote P.P. from prison, if my memory serves me correctly...he had been locked up for his active faith.

[bourbon]

yes, I'm sure at one time earlier in American history, everyone would have known recognized Vanity Fair as an allusion to Bunyan's book. As you said, the book was VERY popular.

Indeed, I only recognized the allusion not b/c I had read the book itself but b/c I've read a fair bit about the book. I must say this discussion and your extremely high praise of it does make me want to read it! thanks!

I should add that there is also a William Makepeace Thackeray book called Vanity Fair. Strangely enough, I just noticed this as I was looking at my bookshelves next to the computer!

(Grin!) But I've never read that book, either. I'm embarassed to admit that my reading list is growing more cluttered by the day.

[EternalVigilance]

Pilgim's Progress is in the public domain...so you can read it online if you would like:

http://www.ccel.org/b/bunyan/progress/title.html

[bourbon]

Well, gosh darn it, it just doesn't sound MANLY.

Well then, you have very good instincts.

At present, the magazine is somewhat cluttered with "fashionable" ads featuring very gay-looking men (think, Calvin Klein or Prada).

Nevertheless, the magazine does put forth a fairly high quality of journalism, better than what you get from most glossy magazines or the NY Times under Raines' reign.

[RightWhale]

Oboy! A literature thread.

Seriously, VF has excellent articles now and then. So did George. Bunyan is heavy slogging, though, nothing like Dante or even Virgil. Better stick with Voltaire and Henry Miller.

[bourbon]

thanks for the recommendations.

I find as a rule that if other people find something boring then I'll probably enjoy it. Consequently, I might actually like Pilgrim's Progress. scary thought!

[bourbon]

I remember enjoying Candide, but I don't think Henry Miller is up my alley at all.

[RightWhale]

Voltaire must be read in French, Dante in Italian, and Virgil in Latin. Then you see why Henry Miller will also be classical some day and Bunyan was just the pop lit of the day.

[okie01]

"I've read several good pieces in VF, a magazine I had no interest in before."

Michael Kelly has turned New Republic into something readable and thoughtful, as well.

The niche media are learning faster than the mainstream giants. It's a healthy revolution...

[jwalsh07]

btt 4later