Books and Ideas

Cathedral of Notre Dame going up in flames

The Burning of Notre Dame Is Not Just a Tragedy—It’s an Opportunity The Burning of Notre Dame Is Not Just a Tragedy—It’s an Opportunity

It’s an occasion to a consider a more expansive idea of what it means to be French.

Apr 17, 2019 / Daniel Judt

Notre Dame Cathedral

Grieving for Notre Dame Grieving for Notre Dame

The church embodies a civilization, and had it been erased from the earth—as thankfully it has not been, as it now appears—the loss would have been irretrievable.

Apr 16, 2019 / Arthur Goldhammer

The Transfixing Spell of Edward Gorey’s Life in Art

The Transfixing Spell of Edward Gorey’s Life in Art The Transfixing Spell of Edward Gorey’s Life in Art

Mark Dery’s Born to Be Posthumous meticulously tells the story of the unconventional author and artist, who amassed an ardent following yet remains unknown to many readers.

Apr 16, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Jillian Steinhauer

The Making and Unmaking of Brazilian Democracy

The Making and Unmaking of Brazilian Democracy The Making and Unmaking of Brazilian Democracy

A new one-volume history of Brazil reminds us, despite its Whiggish orientation, that democratic institutions in the country have existed only in troubled spurts.

Apr 16, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Alex Cuadros

Tom Tomorrow cartoon

The Twisted Truth The Twisted Truth

Stories from the warped side.

Apr 16, 2019 / Tom Tomorrow

Fully Booked

Fully Booked Fully Booked

Trump, at the southern border, says to would-be immigrants, “We’re full.” —News reports “We’re full,” Trump said, as if he ran An inn that’s booked up for the night. Those empty ro…

Apr 15, 2019 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Paco Taibo’s Republic of Readers

Paco Taibo’s Republic of Readers Paco Taibo’s Republic of Readers

Mexico’s de facto culture minister wants to remake his society—starting with books.

Apr 15, 2019 / Feature / Marc Cooper

The Political Lives of Mario Vargas Llosa

The Political Lives of Mario Vargas Llosa The Political Lives of Mario Vargas Llosa

How Peru’s greatest novelist went from socialist to neoliberal ideologue.

Apr 15, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Patrick Iber

Katrina vanden Heuvel

Continuity and Change at ‘The Nation’ Continuity and Change at ‘The Nation’

This year marks my 25th anniversary as editor, and it’s time to move on. I’ll be taking on a new role as editorial director—and will remain as publisher.

Apr 12, 2019 / Katrina vanden Heuvel

Halle Butler’s Millennial Workplace Novel Has All the Precarity and None of the Pathos

Halle Butler’s Millennial Workplace Novel Has All the Precarity and None of the Pathos Halle Butler’s Millennial Workplace Novel Has All the Precarity and None of the Pathos

The New Me and other recent novels use millennial tropes as shortcuts to generational fatigue.

Apr 11, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Katie Bloom

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