Books & the Arts

Prison Without Walls Prison Without Walls

Our nation's two-decade spree of building prisons and sentencing even nonviolent criminals to long spells inside them has produced a staggering number of incarcerated people in A...

Apr 8, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Jennifer Egan

Staring at the Sea Staring at the Sea

Toward the end of January, I received an invitation to a press opening for "Manet and the Sea," at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Apr 1, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Arthur C. Danto

Empty Vessel Empty Vessel

For a man who destroyed his country and wrecked or stole hundreds of thousands of lives, Slobodan Milosevic is an oddly colorless villain.

Apr 1, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Laura Secor

Democracy Is in the Streets Democracy Is in the Streets

If you found George W. Bush's 2000 victory in Florida difficult to stomach, imagine being on the losing side of Mexico's 1988 presidential election.

Apr 1, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Daniel Wilkinson

Everybody’s Talking About the Weather Everybody’s Talking About the Weather

The last few years have seen renewed interest in the Weathermen.

Mar 30, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Jeremy Varon

Speak, Memory Speak, Memory

Not wanting to curse Charlie Kaufman with too much praise, I'm tempted to say that his nonexistent twin Donald is the best American screenwriter since Preston Sturges.

Mar 25, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Stuart Klawans

Heart of Gold Heart of Gold

Courtney Love's new record is called America's Sweetheart. Take that. It's a name that has been used facetiously by the press to describe her.

Mar 25, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Priscilla Becker

In America In America

If the words "first novel" and "arrival of a major American talent" appear on the front flap of a dust jacket, you can almost be sure that the picture on the back flap will depic...

Mar 25, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Philip Connors

Water’s Edge Water’s Edge

Manhattan is a tight little island. Around thirteen miles long, it has a width that varies from two miles to a few hundred feet.

Mar 25, 2004 / Books & the Arts / John Palattella

Letter From Algeria Letter From Algeria

Excavating the disappeared.

Mar 25, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Jack Brown

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