Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters

On November 7, 2019, two novelists appeared at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge to read from and talk about their books on squash and tennis.

Talking about their work in a conversation with Gelf Magazine co-founder Carl Bialik in this episode:

Benjamin Markovits—teacher of creative writing at Royal Holloway, University of London, and author of nine novels, including Playing Days, about his experience playing pro ball in Germany—read from his pair of novels A Weekend in New York and Christmas in Austin, which follow the fortunes of a large family of Texan Jews, including Paul Essinger, a retiring tennis player. Christmas in Austin is being released the night of Varsity Letters.

Alexander Tilney—a graduate of the Warren Wilson College MFA Program for Writers who has written for Gelf Magazine, among other publications—talked about and read from his new novel, The Expectations, about a pair of squash players and roommates trying to make it through their first year of boarding school.

On November 7, 2019, two novelists appeared at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge to read from and talk about their books on squash and tennis.

Reading from their work in this episode:

Benjamin Markovits—teacher of creative writing at Royal Holloway, University of London, and author of nine novels, including Playing Days, about his experience playing pro ball in Germany—read from his pair of novels A Weekend in New York and Christmas in Austin, which follow the fortunes of a large family of Texan Jews, including Paul Essinger, a retiring tennis player. Christmas in Austin is being released the night of Varsity Letters.

Alexander Tilney—a graduate of the Warren Wilson College MFA Program for Writers who has written for Gelf Magazine, among other publications—talked about and read from his new novel, The Expectations, about a pair of squash players and roommates trying to make it through their first year of boarding school.

On February 23, 2016, three writers appeared at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge for a night to devoted you, the fans.

In this episode:

• ESPN producer Justine Gubar, author of Fanaticus: Mischief and Madness in the Modern Sports Fan
• Wall Street Journal sports columnist Jason Gay, author of Little Victories: Perfect Rules for Imperfect Living

On February 23, 2016, three writers appeared at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge for a night to devoted you, the fans.

In this episode:

Sports Illustrated executive editor Jon Wertheim, co-author of This Is Your Brain on Sports: The Science of Underdogs, the Value of Rivalry, and What We Can Learn from the T-Shirt Cannon:

On March 22, 2016, two writers appeared at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge to read from and talk about their work on basketball—and one NBA Hall of Famer called in.

In this episode:

Shawn Fury, author of Rise and Fire: The Origins, Science, and Evolution of the Jump Shot --- and How It Transformed Basketball Forever

On March 22, 2016, two writers appeared at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge to read from and talk about their work on basketball—and one NBA Hall of Famer called in.

In this episode:

• Rick Barry
• Sports Illustrated senior writer Alexander Wolff, author of The Audacity of Hoop: Basketball and the Age of Obama.

On June 15, 2016, three writers appeared at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge to read from and talk about work on Muhammad Ali.

In this episode:

Alex Belth, the editor of Esquire Classic and curator for Deadspin's The Stacks.

Robert Lipsyte, a longtime sportswriter who penned the fighter's New York Times obituary.

On June 15, 2016, three writers appeared at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge to read from and talk about work on Muhammad Ali.

In this episode:

Brin-Jonathan Butler wrote and directed Ali vs Stevenson: The Greatest Fight That Never Was and authored The Domino Diaries.

On July 12, 2016, three writers appeared at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge to read from and talk about their work on the Olympics.

In this episode:

David Davis, author of Waterman: The Life and Times of Duke Kahanamoku, the first U.S. superstar Olympic swimmer.

On July 12, 2016, three writers appeared at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge to read from and talk about their work on the Olympics.

In this episode:

Dvora Meyers, author of The End of the Perfect 10: The Making and Breaking of Gymnastics' Top Score from Nadia to Now.