'The piece of crap held together'

Denmark | ‘The Orb,’ by Klaus Rifbjerg (chapter 1)

Translator and volume co-editor Thom Satterlee originally titled this poem “The Sphere” before deciding that “The Orb” communicated a more mystical, humorous quality. (Graphic © Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt)

Whither the 'soccer mom'

Introduction | The world’s game as America’s game

An introduction to The Global Game: Writers on Soccer, the first anthology of soccer writing produced for a North American audience. Taking a cue from Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin (left), what do we talk about when we talk about soccer?

More on literature and soccer »

• From Tel Aviv we interview Assaf Gavron, novelist, translator, editor and captain of a recently created team of Israeli writers. The team, with victories over England and Germany, lifted its first trophy, taking Gavron to the familiar day-after feeling of emptiness that resembles completion of a novel. (Dec 19) Go to post »
• As part of a broader cultural exchange, Israel hosts an international Writers' League tournament, including England and Germany, from Dec 14–16. A side of Israeli authors reprises a May friendly against Germany in Berlin, during which novelist Assaf Gavron confirmed his intuition that Germans do not miss penalties. (Dec 12) Go to post »
• The Global Game: Writers on Soccer translates from languages such as Slovenian, Farsi and Danish (as well as French, Spanish, Portuguese and numerous others), but, most important, it translates cultural practice from regions that regard soccer as a constituent element of everyday life. Thus, in chapter 12, the Argentine idiom ¡Tapalo con los diarios! becomes "Get him a body bag!" (Nov 25) Go to post »