A Conversation with Ed Simon

The (in person) jovial and (in print) mordant Ed Simon and I had a conversation recently, on any number of topics, but at greatest length on literary style and the tyranny of journalistic parsimony in style-manuals. During the first half of the exchange, there were occasional interjections and interruptions by a certain two-and-a-half-year-old commentator, and as a result a few awkward cuts are now to be found in the recording. Once that captious critic had retired in disgust for a nap, things became more continuous (if less amusing).