Arts: Do People Pay More for Houses Once Occupied by Famous Writers?

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Brow Beat Do People Pay More for Houses Once Occupied by Famous Writers? By David Haglund Posted Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011, at 08:59 PM ET As Ray Gustini pointed out on the Atlantic Wire earlier this afternoon, John Updike's childhood home in Shillington, Pa. has been put up for sale on eBay, of all places. Why use the auction site for the sale? Is it because the owners hope to get more for the property on account of its Pulitzer Prize-winning former resident? Perhaps: Gustini notes that "the opening bid for the property is a hefty $249,000," and you can "Buy It Now" for $499,000. As of 2009, Gustini says, "a detatched house in Shillington sold for an average price of $158,467." And the ad pushes the Updike connection pretty hard: Shillington and nearby Reading, Pennsylvania are thought to be the backdrop for his novel  Rabbit Run and the sequels  Rabbit is Rich (1981) and  Rabbit at Rest (1990) for which he received 2 Pulitzer Prizes. Until John Updike was 13 years old he lived in this 3 story brick home [...] During those formative years Updike's creativity was nurtured in the rooms with, [sic] high ceilings, wide woodwork, and large windows. The original features and characteristics of the home remain as Updike recalled in a 1999 visit while being filmed for a German documentary on the childhoods of renowned authors around the world. [...] A Dogwood Tree that was planted in the front yard on John Updike's first birthday still blossoms every spring.  If hopes for a big sale do depend on Updike's name, the owners should probably prepare ... To continue reading, click here. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate Why Scalia Changed His Mind About Whether the 14th Amendment Gives Women Equal Rights How Occupy Protesters Are Irritating the Same Union Workers They Claim To Be Rallying For I Used To Feel Guilty About Celebrating a Godless Christmas. Now I Love It.	Advertisement
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