For a while, it took a subscription to view the Reading Eagle story about Adam Begley‘s keynote John Updike Society conference talk, but now you can view a version of it for free at Berks & Beyond.

In the article by Bruce Posten, Begley said “he happened to write Updike’s obituary in 2009 for the New York Observer, where he was books editor. Apparently because of that, he was subsequently tapped by HarperCollins to write the biography.”

“‘My primary regret is it took Updike’s death to make it happen,’ he said, noting that Updike had expressed that he never wanted a biography during his lifetime.'”

Here’s the full story and a photo by Reading Eagle photographer Bill Uhrich of Begley with conference co-directors Maria Mogford (left) and Sue Guay (right).