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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/jun/19/play-the-literary-world-cup-nominate-your-all-time-top-team
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| Play the literary World Cup: nominate your all-time top team | Play the literary World Cup: nominate your all-time top team |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Everything is about football these days, so we're all trying to get a look-in - whether in fashion, music, film, food or (yes,really!) beards . Even things that have nothing to do with the beautiful game are "a thing" because of it. | Everything is about football these days, so we're all trying to get a look-in - whether in fashion, music, film, food or (yes,really!) beards . Even things that have nothing to do with the beautiful game are "a thing" because of it. |
| In the books world, publishers Penguin have capitalised on the fact that – according to a survey – 37% of people who aren't interested in the World Cup turn to books to escape. They've cheekily launched their very own Penguin Cup: 16 teams, all formed by each country's all-time literary stars. | In the books world, publishers Penguin have capitalised on the fact that – according to a survey – 37% of people who aren't interested in the World Cup turn to books to escape. They've cheekily launched their very own Penguin Cup: 16 teams, all formed by each country's all-time literary stars. |
| England's XI look great, especially after their real-life big defeat against Uruguay (though sadly it's impossible to size up the literary competition as there is no entry for the Latin American country): | |
| This England team really are the complete package, with an unbeatably heavyweight midfield of Austen, Dickens and Shakespeare. Zadie Smith and Nick Hornby provide a welcome injection of youth and modernism into the team, while Byron and Keats aren’t just a romantic pick: they’ve earned their place in the team on merit. Flanking the incisive Geroge Orwell upfront are a couple of best-selling galacticos in JK Rowling and Agatha Christie. | This England team really are the complete package, with an unbeatably heavyweight midfield of Austen, Dickens and Shakespeare. Zadie Smith and Nick Hornby provide a welcome injection of youth and modernism into the team, while Byron and Keats aren’t just a romantic pick: they’ve earned their place in the team on merit. Flanking the incisive Geroge Orwell upfront are a couple of best-selling galacticos in JK Rowling and Agatha Christie. |
| The USA team also looks strong, and has the advantage of not having to contend with Austen's Empire line hems: | The USA team also looks strong, and has the advantage of not having to contend with Austen's Empire line hems: |
| The US fields a youthful side here but one that is undeniably brimming with talent. The creative Hemingway and Fitzgerald offer contrasting styles but play consistently well together: one offers a blunt, direct path through the opposition’s defence, while the other can conjure a fluid style like no other. D. Parker is one to watch out for, as she is more than capable of decimating the opposition with incisive attacks. Potential weak links include JD Salinger and Thomas Pynchon, who have undeniable talent but can occasionally go missing. | The US fields a youthful side here but one that is undeniably brimming with talent. The creative Hemingway and Fitzgerald offer contrasting styles but play consistently well together: one offers a blunt, direct path through the opposition’s defence, while the other can conjure a fluid style like no other. D. Parker is one to watch out for, as she is more than capable of decimating the opposition with incisive attacks. Potential weak links include JD Salinger and Thomas Pynchon, who have undeniable talent but can occasionally go missing. |
| Each team is accompanied by a short outline of the country's literary history – and the publisher has also highlighted a relevant book (Hornby's Fever Pitch for the UK and Steinbeck's East of Eden for the US), on which they will offer a discount that will increase with each match victory . | Each team is accompanied by a short outline of the country's literary history – and the publisher has also highlighted a relevant book (Hornby's Fever Pitch for the UK and Steinbeck's East of Eden for the US), on which they will offer a discount that will increase with each match victory . |
| They have also created stickers for the star players – here's one from the Greek team, which has an average age of over 2,000 years old: As the publisher points out: "The 124-year-old Nikos Kazantzakis provides a welcome injection of youth to the squad." | They have also created stickers for the star players – here's one from the Greek team, which has an average age of over 2,000 years old: As the publisher points out: "The 124-year-old Nikos Kazantzakis provides a welcome injection of youth to the squad." |
| And they have taken the game to Twitter with the hashtag #PenguinCupNews, full of funny speculations as to what would happen if these teams clashed – obviously, the best of literary tropes are welcome: | |
| JD Salinger fails to turn up to training #penguincupnews | JD Salinger fails to turn up to training #penguincupnews |
| Tolstoy: “Only 90 minutes ? Can’t we make it ten hours?” #penguincupnews | Tolstoy: “Only 90 minutes ? Can’t we make it ten hours?” #penguincupnews |
| @PenguinUKBooks McEwan does not save ball. Writes book that makes up for not saving ball by saying he did, in fact, save it #penguincupnews | @PenguinUKBooks McEwan does not save ball. Writes book that makes up for not saving ball by saying he did, in fact, save it #penguincupnews |
| David Foster Wallace turns up to training in tennis whites, as if it's some sort of joke #penguincupnews | David Foster Wallace turns up to training in tennis whites, as if it's some sort of joke #penguincupnews |
| A few authors have already joined the game on Twitter, with Paulo Coelho declaring himself to be a supporter of Brazil's team (easy choice: he's in it): | A few authors have already joined the game on Twitter, with Paulo Coelho declaring himself to be a supporter of Brazil's team (easy choice: he's in it): |
| I'm supporting Brazil in the Penguin Cup. More here: http://t.co/PmjrQDO4K5 … pic.twitter.com/kPn3nuRfdg | I'm supporting Brazil in the Penguin Cup. More here: http://t.co/PmjrQDO4K5 … pic.twitter.com/kPn3nuRfdg |
| Nigerian-American writer and photographer Teju Cole played along as well: | Nigerian-American writer and photographer Teju Cole played along as well: |
| #leftwinger RT @paulmartinovic: Have you noticed you made the Nigerian Penguin Cup team? http://t.co/cdPGh734Zj pic.twitter.com/orEZf6HOXr | #leftwinger RT @paulmartinovic: Have you noticed you made the Nigerian Penguin Cup team? http://t.co/cdPGh734Zj pic.twitter.com/orEZf6HOXr |
| English writer Nick Hornby, meanwhile, declared his inclusion in the England team to be his "proudest moment in football and literature". On a Facebook post, he added: "I worry about this team, though. I know for a fact that Zadie [Smith] has no left foot, and I'm worried that [Jane] Austen won't give me the protection I need if their left winger has pace. [Agatha] Christie is prolific, though." | English writer Nick Hornby, meanwhile, declared his inclusion in the England team to be his "proudest moment in football and literature". On a Facebook post, he added: "I worry about this team, though. I know for a fact that Zadie [Smith] has no left foot, and I'm worried that [Jane] Austen won't give me the protection I need if their left winger has pace. [Agatha] Christie is prolific, though." |
| So here we go. We're not ones to miss on the fun, so over to you. What would be your all-time literary XI? Living or dead authors will be accepted – as will any nationalities (either a country squad or a mixed global team). Nominate a player for each position, and state why they would be appropriate for it. And feel free to indulge in imaginary encounters... We'll compose a Guardian Books XI with your suggestions. | So here we go. We're not ones to miss on the fun, so over to you. What would be your all-time literary XI? Living or dead authors will be accepted – as will any nationalities (either a country squad or a mixed global team). Nominate a player for each position, and state why they would be appropriate for it. And feel free to indulge in imaginary encounters... We'll compose a Guardian Books XI with your suggestions. |