September 1983 Issue [Palpitations] The prince of finesse Download PDF Adjust Share Nine hundred pages of criticism prove that John Updike is no air-dancing dandy by James Wolcott, Subscribe or log in to continue reading. Tags 20th century Criticism English literature History and criticism John Updike United States More from James Wolcott Philip Larkin’s enormous yes A connoisseur of doom whose wit refuses to die Hammett’s long goodbye A deferential biography of literature's Marlboro man Mooing in the meadows of love Confessional novels that give real life a bad name Adjust Share