Bill Keller now states that the NYTBR “is not written for the publishing industry.” However, the bigger revelation is that Ben Schwarz is on record saying that literary fiction “doesn’t play the same role in the lives of intelligent, informed Americans as it did 50 years ago.”

Since Mr. Schwarz did not follow this statement up with any particular enthusiasm for literary fiction and since he underestimates the power of book freaks (and, also, since he hopes echoing Mr. Keller’s words will get him the job), we here at Return of the Reluctant withdraw our endorsement for Benjamin Schwarz and move to Sarah Crichton’s camp.

We urge all readers to vote hope for Ms. Crichton to take over the Book Review, which is in really silly shape at the moment.