Lit Hub Daily: December 8, 2021

• Joe Moshenska on the complicated task of capturing John Milton’s dual sides: prophet and scholar, radical and know-it-all, both “utterly out of place.” | Lit Hub Biography

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• A light in the Dark Ages: Matthew Gabriele and David M. Perry on the hidden agency of women in medieval stories. | Lit Hub History

• “This is the cautionary tale to keep in mind when elected officials offer economic nirvana by cutting taxes: Somebody, somewhere, is always paying the price.” Tony Messenger on how America criminalizes poverty. | Lit Hub Politics

• Sonia Manzano on the life-changing moment of first seeing Sesame Street—and later being cast on the show as Maria. | Lit Hub TV

• John-Paul Stonard on the “image-making instinct” of early humans, which manifested in similar cave drawings across continents. | Lit Hub History

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• Kazuo Ishiguro, Alexandra Kleeman, Jeff VanderMeer, Anthony Doerr, and Joy Williams all feature among the Best Reviewed Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Books of 2021. | Book Marks

• Why are publishers so hesitant to credit translators? | Vulture

• “Poetry gives us language for what is both widely shared and highly individual.” Lindsay Turner on turning to poetry in the wake of miscarriage. | The Atlantic

• On the politics of A Christmas Carol. | Book Riot

• Rebecca Carroll discusses her memoir, her childhood, and growing up Black in an all-white town. | Shondaland

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• Why an author’s social media following is not necessarily a predictor of great book sales. | The New York Times

• “The techniques I use to find out things for my books are the same techniques I learned as an investigative reporter.” Robert Caro speaks about how journalism informs his book writing.  | The New Republic

• Deesha Philyaw, Jason Reynolds, and Angela Flournoy reflect on the legacy and work of Gayl Jones.  | Harper’s Bazaar

Also on Lit Hub: Obed Silva learns the meaning of the word “güey” • Tabitha Lasley revisits Deepwater Horizon and Piper Alpha • Read from Francesco Pacifico’s latest novel, The Women I Love (tr. Elizabeth Harris)