Daily Front Row

2009 April 6

Required Reading

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(NEW YORK) While The Paris Review is not exactly a fashion-focused publication, it draws an excessively chic readership--many of whom will show for the magazine's annual Spring Revel on April 13 at Cipririani 42nd Street. When Philip Gourevitch was named editor of the venerable journal following founder George Plimpton's death, his widely-praised redesign and increased focus on fiction and its masters energized The Paris Review and mobilized its crowd of supporters. The Revel, as its known, is a fundraising outlet and general celebration of the international literati that find the Review more relevant and cherished than ever.

This year, Zadie Smith will present the Plimpton Prize for Fiction to Alistair Morgan, and Paul Muldoon will bestow the Hadada Award upon John Ashbery. Benjamin C. Bradlee and Sally Quinn will offer a toast; other hosts include André Aciman, Joan Allen, Howard Altmann, Paul Auster, Vijay Balakrishnan, Jesse Ball, Mary Jo Bang, John Burnham Schwartz, Dan Chiasson, Patricia Clarkson, Joan Didion, Karl Taro Greenfeld, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Siri Hustvedt, Uzondima Iweala, Mary Karr, Nick Laird, David Lehman, Colum McCann, Meghan O’Rourke, Archie and Maria Rand, Katie Roiphe, James Salter, Gary Shteyngart and Richard Thomas.

Individual tickets to the dinner range from $500 to $1,500, while tables may be procured for levels between $10,000 and $50,000. They may be reserved by calling (212) 343-1333 or visiting theparisreview.com. Despite the heavyweight guest list, no (official) reading is required.
ASHLEY BAKER