Synopses & Reviews
Issue 104 features original work by many of the writers who have helped to make
Granta the most widely read literary magazine in the world.
Granta has always succeeded when at its boldest and most unpredictable, when it has sought to challenge and confront as well as entertain and inform. In this spirit, the design has been refined and a new front section is being introduced, which includes a letters page that will serve as a forum for readers' views and opinions. The result is a magazine that carries a timely sense of renewal and possibility as
Granta sails on into its second century.
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It's a huge pleasure to be able to introduce you to the new issue of Granta, for which we've chosen the theme of fathers. One of the most rewarding aspects of editing the issue was the imaginative responses we had from the writers we worked with whether they were writing a piece of memoir or investigation (like Ruchir Joshi or Francesca Segal), an essay on the nature of fatherhood (see Siri Hustvedt's 'My Father Myself'), or responding to a favourite photograph, as in our 'Portrait of my Father' series. The issue also features short stories that draw for inspiration on caterpillars, elephants and mambo music. I really hope you enjoy reading the pieces as much as we enjoyed gathering them together; from January, you’ll be able to let us know your reactions via this website, and we’d love to hear from you.
Alex Clark
Editor
Synopsis
Issue 104 features original work by many of the writers who have helped to make Granta the most widely read literary magazine in the world. Granta has always succeeded when at its boldest and most unpredictable, when it has sought to challenge and confront as well as entertain and inform. In this spirit, the design has been refined and a new front section is being introduced, which includes a letters page that will serve as a forum for readers views and opinions. The result is a magazine that carries a timely sense of renewal and possibility as Granta sails on into its second century.
Table of Contents
David Goldblatt faces up to his father's violent death
Benjamin Markovits on high-school sports, Texan-style
Francesca Segal looks for the Brooklyn of her father’s youth
Ruchir Joshi recalls the many faces of Puppa
Siri Hustvedt on the anxiety of influence
Michael Bywater wonders if friendship is women's work
Writers on photographs of their fathers: Alison Bechdel, Olga Grushin, David Heatley, Reina James, Jonathan Lethem, Adam Mars-Jones, Jon McGregor, Joseph O’Neill and Ali Smith
Kevin Cummins photographs the Runcorn Wrestling Academy and John Naughton gets in the ring
Fiction by Emma Donoghue, Kirsty Gunn, James Lasdun, Daniyal Mueenuddin and Justin Torres
Poetry by Paul Farley and Will Self's fetish object