The Etiquette of Autographs

A nice side effect of being invited to speak at literary festivals as a writer is that you enjoy privileged access as a reader. Writing, if you like, is the Trojan horse of reading. At the Jaipur Literature Festival in India last year, I met Steve Coll (“Ghost Wars”) and Lawrence Wright (“The Looming Tower”). What struck me — and I mean this as a compliment — was the speed with which Lawrence (to you) went from being the author of a stonking great masterpiece to just “Larry,” a guy I was hanging out with. Ditto Bobby (Roberto) Calasso. Well, that’s not quite true. I didn’t exactly hang out with Calasso and I never called him “Bobby,” but I did meet him, several times. I’d love to say I can prove it, but I can’t. That is, I didn’t get any books signed.