The London Review of Books at Ace Hotel

Crisscrossing the pond.

For readers of a rebellious sort, the London Review of Books joins us this month in a three-part partnership that crisscrosses publishing, podcasting and products.

First up: a little book about hotels. The thirteenth edition of the LRB’s Collection series, Travellers in Residence includes a dozen essays to do with hotels — perhaps the only places where glamorous long-term residents rub shoulders with war correspondents, disenchanted poets and literary tourists chasing ghosts. Each piece was originally published and selected for this collection by the LRB. Below, we’re previewing a Travellers excerpt from newly crowned Nobel Prize in Literature winner Anne Carson.

We also paired up to put out a tote and a mug. You can find them in-person from October 26–30 at Ace Hotel Brooklyn, where the LRB will be with some of their most covetable offerings: books, caps, vinyl and their silver herringbone blanket, made in collaboration with the British Blanket Company. Can’t make it? Fret not. Put our exclusive collab on pre-order online at Ace Hotel Shop.

There’s more. On October 27 from 7–9pm, join us for a live recording of the LRB’s “Close Readings” podcast. Host James Wood (Harvard, The New Yorker) sits down with Clair Wills (Cambridge, An Post Award-winner) for a conversation on the art of the memoir, beginning with Hilary Mantel’s memoir, Giving Up the Ghost.

Now, enjoy the words of Anne.

Monday
Anne Carson

The hotel has a pool. The hotel has no pool. The hotel has a pool but it is three strokes long. The hotel has no pool but there is a university pool. The university pool is closed for a swim meet. The university pool is not closed but requires a keycard. There is no university or university pool but there is an ocean, loch, lake, fjord, river, local spa. These are wildly pounding, freezing cold, rocky, muddy, reedy or crazy expensive, nonetheless all will be well, the visiting lecturer knows as she slides into the water. You too are made of stars, someone is saying later as she passes the breakfast room.