Broader, Better Literary Conversations Broader, Better Literary Conversations
Literary conversations are not representative of the diversity of modern letters. We can and I will do better.
Sep 9, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Roxane Gay
Walter Mosley’s Alien Script Walter Mosley’s Alien Script
The author opens up about his latest art exhibition, magic, failure and unexpected success.
Sep 6, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Fatima Bhojani
‘Rodman Returns to North Korea to Visit Kim’—The New York Times ‘Rodman Returns to North Korea to Visit Kim’—The New York Times
So Rodman makes more Sturm und Drang By planning a trip to Pyongyang. What purpose is served by this junket? He may think he’ll teach Kim to dunk it. But Kim Jong-un, being vest-pocket In size, would require a rocket. Of course, as he’s wont to disclose, The man has no shortage of those.
Sep 4, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Remembering Seamus Heaney Remembering Seamus Heaney
The contrarian poet refused to toe any party line.
Sep 4, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Margaret Spillane
Jester and Priest: On Leszek Kolakowski Jester and Priest: On Leszek Kolakowski
How the great Polish philosopher went from being an anticlerical scourge to an apostle of John Paul II.
Sep 4, 2013 / Books & the Arts / John Connelly
Another Constructive Tea Party Agenda Another Constructive Tea Party Agenda
“Some Republicans Nurture Dreams of Impeaching Obama” —New York Times headline The limits of our patience have been reached: Obama simply has to be impeached. High crimes and misdemeanors? Yes, this traitor Must have them. We’ll produce a long list later. For now, we say he has to get the sack. You may have noticed, by the way—he’s black.
Aug 28, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
The Colonist of Good Will: On Albert Camus The Colonist of Good Will: On Albert Camus
Algerian Chronicles shows that Camus still has something to say to us—not about terrorism but economic justice.
Aug 27, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Thomas Meaney
How the Streets Honor Martin Luther King Jr. How the Streets Honor Martin Luther King Jr.
On city walls across the country, muralists and street artists depict him as a statesman, visionary, hero and martyr.
Aug 14, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Camilo José Vergara
The Winter Olympics in Putin’s Russia The Winter Olympics in Putin’s Russia
Gay rights activists hold a banner reading "Homophobia - the religion of bullies" during their action in protest of homophobia, on Red Square in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday, July 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Evgeny Feldman) “Putin signs anti-gay legislation into law.” —news reports It’s possible a skier’d have to pray, As he zoomed down the steepest slope one day, That he did not, by accident, display A manner that those eager to obey The laws that under Putin now hold sway Might video as evidence, then say This shows with certainty that he is gay, Illegally, and must be sent away To some gay gulag, where he will decay In dungeons like the cages of Bombay. And meanwhile Putin leads the cheers: “Let’s hear it! Let’s celebrate that grand Olympic spirit!”
Aug 14, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Fascist Sympathies: On Dorothea Brande Fascist Sympathies: On Dorothea Brande
Wake Up and Live! reveals the connection between the radical individualism of 1930s self-help manuals and fascist politics.
Aug 13, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Joanna Scutts