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Chile vs. Italy [World Cup of Literature: Quarterfinals]

The first quarterfinal matchup features two prominent, stellar authors: Roberto Bolaño represents Chile with his novel By Night in Chile, facing off against Italian author Elena Ferrante and her Days of Abandonment. Bolaño made it to this point by annihilating the Netherlands and Koch’s The Dinner by a score of ...

The Quarterfinal Matchups [World Cup of Literature]

Now that all of the second round matches have been decided, it’s time for an updated bracket. You can download a PDF version here. These quarterfinal matches are all pretty tight . . . And, they’ll all be decided over the next two days. Today, Monday, July 7th, Chile (By Night in Chile by Roberto ...

USA vs. Belgium [World Cup of Literature: Second Round]

This match was judged by Lori Feathers. For more info on the World Cup of Literature, read this, and download the updated bracket. Conventional wisdom pronounced that Team USA would face a quick death in this year’s World Cup: drawing into the “group of death”; no superstar players; Coach Klinsmann’s ...

Argentina vs. France [World Cup of Literature: Second Round]

This match was judged by Tom Roberge. For more info on the World Cup of Literature, read this, and download the updated bracket. I genuinely love the World Cup. And yet every four years I’m reminded why I haven’t picked an English Premier League team to support, why in the end I’m glad it’s over, why I have no ...

Ivory Coast vs. Uruguay [World Cup of Literature: Second Round]

This match was judged by Elianna Kan. For more info on the World Cup of Literature, read this, and download the updated bracket. Costa Rica. Colombia. Ecuador. Greece. These teams have amazed us in this year’s World Cup for having made it as far as they have. They’re teams that have played consistently well over ...

Mexico vs. Australia [World Cup of Literature: Second Round]

This match was judged by Chad W. Post. For more info on the World Cup of Literature, read this, and download the updated bracket. First off, let it be said that Barley Patch doesn’t even deserve to be playing in this match. Sure, Mauro had his reasons for choosing Gerald Murnane’s self-conscious masterpiece over ...

Germany vs. Algeria [World Cup of Literature: Second Round]

This match was judged by Florian Duijsens. For more info on the World Cup of Literature, read this, and download the updated bracket. To pitch anyone against W. G. Sebald is a cruel exercise, even within the high-stakes tournament that is the World Cup of Literature. More so even than Bolaño, whose fame in the ...