London Review Bookshop Podcast Can't and Won't: An Evening with Lydia Davis
Aug 27, 2014
Lydia Davis, an accomplished writer known for her unique body of work, made a rare London appearance at the Bookshop. She discussed titles, translation, and small thoughts with Adam Thirlwell. They explored the power of brevity in writing and the influence of translation on her writing. They also discussed the relationship between attention and story length, and the challenges and pleasures of translation.
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Origin of "Samuel Johnson Is Indignant"
- Lydia Davis shared how the story "Samuel Johnson Is Indignant" originated from a sentence in Boswell's or Johnson's account of their trip to the Hebrides.
- The sentence, "Scotland has so few trees," amused her and became the story's core, split between title and body.
Trusting Your Intuition
- Davis emphasizes that she doesn't overthink audience reactions when writing.
- She focuses on what pleases her, allowing for revisions later if needed.
Exhaustiveness in Miniatures
- Adam Thirlwell points out the "microphonic effect" of Davis's miniatures, where small details become exaggerated.
- He cites the exhaustiveness in stories like "Judgment" and "Idea for a Sign."