Key West Literary Seminar

1991: A Guidebook Devoid of Soufflé

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1991 marked our first foray into full-color printing. Techniques had yet to attain today's precision, and the resulting promotional literature bore serendipitous irregularities. As in life, the sunset on each of these 5"x7" postcards varies widely— from an almost entirely chartreuse haze, to a nearly-complete spectrum that steps from red in the upper altitudes, to a flash of green, to deep blue sea. Our trusty logo was perhaps never more at home than it is against this unpredictable backdrop, where ingredients and intent are only suggestions toward a result.

John Malcolm Brinnin delivered the keynote address that year, "Travel and The Sense of Wonder," in which he said:

Some of the soupiest travel writing on record has been done by moonstruck impressionists aspiring to literature; some of the best by close observers aiming to convey no more than pertinent information, a credible economic or sociological overview, a guidebook devoid of Chamber of Commerce soufflé.

Touché, John Malcom. We've got a few of these cards lying around, reader. If you'd like to start a collection, email me with your mailing address, and I'll post one your way before sundown.

The journal of the Key West Literary Seminar features recordings from our audio archives, exclusive interviews, essays, news about the Seminar, and dispatches from Key West's literary past and present. It is created by Arlo Haskell. Send email to arlo [at] kwls [dot] org

Each January, we explore a different literary theme through lectures, panel presentations, readings, informal gatherings, and discussions. In January 2011, we explore food in literature with our 29th annual Seminar, THE HUNGRY MUSE.

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About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by Arlo Haskell published on May 7, 2008 3:10 PM.

Goldman, Cheuse, Hunt, Wray added for '09 was the previous entry in this blog.

Allan Gurganus on Marilynne Robinson is the next entry in this blog.

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Audio recordings on this page and elsewhere on www.kwls.org are being made available for educational and noncommmercial use only. All rights to the recorded  material belong to the author or authors speaking. © 2008, 2009.

The Key West Literary Seminar Audio Archives Project is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Florida Division of Cultural Affairs


National Endowment for the Arts