Unfair Park just received this brief, sad missive from Nicholas Latimer, director of publicity for Knopf:
It is with great sadness that I report that John Updike died this morning at the age of 76, after a battle with lung cancer. He was one of our greatest writers, and he will be sorely missed.
JOHN UPDIKE
March 18, 1932 - January 27, 2009
Just one year ago this month, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of such novels as
Rabbit, Run;
Rabbit is Rich;
Rabbit at Rest;
The Witches of Eastwick and
S. kicked off the
NasherSalon 2008 Lecture Series with a sold-out appearance.
As he told WFAA-Channel 8's John McCaa, who served as moderator for the hour-long-plus discussion, "
I'm fortunate to be able to make a living at this game."