Summary
CUSTOMERS enjoying their Thai green curry or chestnut risotto at Pullens Dining Room in Herne Hill probably had little idea that the nice young woman who served them was one of the country's burgeoning literary talents. But now we all know about Rachel Zadok, Whitbread shortlister and former waitress, and the only question is: why are they always waitresses? Or indeed waiters?
For the struggling writer there is obviously something appealing in the job of waiting tables: transient, temporary and frankly undemanding, it fills the evenings and leaves the days free to work on next year's Booker winner. But it is all woefully unimaginative. In the past, writers toiling away at the great masterpiece got decent jobs, ones that put a bit of sinew and gristle into their experience of life in a way that reciting the specials of the day will never do.See the full content of this document
Extract
And Incidentally
Joseph Conrad was a sailor for 20 years before he left the sea to become a...
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