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.

Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters

Sports Novels Night: A Conversation With Alexander Tilney and Benjamin Markovits

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.

Sports Novels Night: Alexander Tilney and Benjamin Markovits

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 

Fan Appreciation Night: Jason Gay and Justine Gubar | February 23, 2016

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:  

Fan Appreciation Night: Jon Wertheim | February 23, 2016

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

Basketball Night: Shawn Fury | March 22, 2016

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. 

Basketball Night: Rick Barry and Alexander Wolff | March 22, 2016

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.

Remembering Muhammad Ali: Alex Belth and Robert Lipsyte | June 15, 2016

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.

Remembering Muhammad Ali: Brin-Jonathan Butler | June 15, 2016

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.

Olympics Night: David Davis | July 12, 2016

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.

Olympics Night: Dvora Meyers | July 12, 2016

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: Varsity Letters regular Dave Zirin discussed his book Brazil's Dance with the Devil and what's really going on in Rio.

Olympics Night: Dave Zirin | July 12, 2016

On July 24, 2017, four writers appeared at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge to talk about their recent baseball books. In this episode: Ron Kaplan, author of Hank Greenberg in 1938: Hatred and Home Runs in the Shadow of War Faith and Fear in Flushing blogger Greg Prince, author of Piazza: Catcher, Slugger, Icon, Star

Ron Kaplan and Greg Prince: Varsity Letters Baseball Night, July 24, 2017

On August 17, 2016, four writers appeared at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge to talk tennis. In this episode: Bart Davis, co-author with Richard Williams of Black and White: The Way I See It. Tom Perrotta, who writes about tennis for The Wall Street Journal and is not the author of Little Children.

Bart Davis and Tom Perrotta: Tennis Night at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters, August 17, 2016

On August 17, 2016, four writers appeared at Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge to talk about their work on tennis. Reading from and talking about their work in this episode: Caitlin Thompson, co-founder of the quarterly Racquet—which published its first issue later that month. Racquet contributor Gerry Marzorati, who also writes about tennis for newyorker.com and is the author of Late to the Ball, a tennis memoir.

Tennis Night: Caitlin Thompson and Gerry Marzorati | August 17, 2016

On August 16, 2017, Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters at The Gallery at Le Poisson Rouge featured sportswriter Steve Rushin, author of Sting-Ray Afternoons: A Memoir.

Steve Rushin: Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters, August 16, 2017

Interviews, readings and Q&As with leading sportswriters from Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters, New York City's sports reading series.

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Gelf Magazine's Varsity Letters

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