The Indian Express recently reported that “Author Helen DeWitt’s refusal to accept the prestigious Windham-Campbell Prize is a reminder that in a noisy world, the most imaginative stance may well be to let the book stand on its own.”
To quote: “DeWitt’s refusal, like Ferrante’s silence, is a reminder that in a noisy world, the most imaginative stance may well be to let the book stand on its own.” This kind of thinking and action is rare nowadays. Good to see this still persists. Perhaps, such people should be called ‘de-influencers’.
I have to add that DeWitt is already an established name in her field. By established, I mean, by name and perhaps by income too.
2 questions:
1) It may be relatively easier for a person of fame to reject further recognition. Will an upcoming writer (or equivalent in other fields) be able to do this?
2) The same person in a different situation may have reacted differently, and a different person in the same situation, too. In the human context, do we fully understand what an incentive is?
