Lit Hub Daily: September 9, 2026

In 1828, Leo Tolstoy was born. He believed that language is a skill one can practice and improve upon, but only by making mistakes. Famed author R.F. Kuang spoke with journalist Adam Dalva about this philosophy. The article explores how theatrical traditions from the German Wiemar Republic can offer insights into artistic expression during times of rising fascism.

Renowned writer Tom Allon shares the teaching advice he received from late Frank McCourt when mentoring high school students. Author Beth Lew-Williams delves into the legal history of anti-Chinese racism in America, drawing from her Cundill Prize-shortlisted book John Doe Chinaman. Lit Hub presents the winners of American Short Fiction's 2026 Insider Prize, chosen by celebrated author Elizabeth McCracken.

Writer Catherine Lim reflects on the challenge of writing about personal grief while shaping narratives that reveal strength. Peatlands, covering just 3-4 percent of Earth's surface, contain valuable lessons about time. Ken Liu's new collection The Passing of the Dragon and Other Stories includes his essay "50 Things Every AI Working with Humans Should Know".

In Melville's Moby-Dick, the pale Usher character is framed as a parable about the transformation of nature's bounty into written works. Yale Review's Tom McCarthy discusses this concept. Jonathan Swift's writings are considered by Dónal Gill as a possible remedy against generative AI. Leslie A. Fiedler's 1960 book Love and Death in the American Novel is revisited by Vivian Gornick.

Anthropic, a tech company, has revealed intentions to conduct "destructive scanning" of books. The New Yorker discusses Anthropic's actions. Public Books examines how the rich and powerful have learned to appear less elite. JSTOR Daily provides additional context on these topics.