Books and Ideas

Blackwater, Blackwater Blackwater, Blackwater

No one keeps track--so let's take a crack.

Dec 16, 2009 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Bob Dylan and Joan Baez at the March on Washington in 1963.

Bob Dylan’s Christmas Album: Is this a Joke? Bob Dylan’s Christmas Album: Is this a Joke?

Fans have been puzzled and troubled by Bob Dylan's new Christmas album. To help figure out what Dylan is doing, we turned to Sean Wilentz -- he's the official historian at the offi...

Dec 13, 2009 / The Notion / Jon Wiener

Sometimes a Small Redemption: On Ludmilla Petrushevskaya Sometimes a Small Redemption: On Ludmilla Petrushevskaya

For Ludmilla Petrushevskaya, the fantastical is always found in the startling, dark and unfathomable episodes of daily life.

Dec 2, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Alexandra Schwartz

Like Lives: On Lorrie Moore Like Lives: On Lorrie Moore

A 9/11 story modeled on Jane Eyre, A Gate at the Stairs is Lorrie Moore's most ambitious novel, and her slipperiest work to date.

Dec 2, 2009 / Books & the Arts / David Wallace-Wells

Dow Plunges on News of Credit Crisis in the United Arab Emirates Dow Plunges on News of Credit Crisis in the United Arab Emirates

Here's something that will make you sigh.

Dec 2, 2009 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Chicago police remove the body of Fred Hampton

Prelude to a Murder Prelude to a Murder

The government's campaign to get Fred Hampton began long before it finally succeeded in killing him.

Nov 30, 2009 / Feature / L.F. Palmer, Jr.

Angels to Radios: On Rainer Maria Rilke Angels to Radios: On Rainer Maria Rilke

The poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke fuses lament and praise, and mingles amazement about sheer existence with mystery and terror.

Nov 24, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Ange Mlinko

Novelist From Another Planet: On Horacio Castellanos Moya Novelist From Another Planet: On Horacio Castellanos Moya

Horacio Castellanos Moya has turned anxiety into an art form and put El Salvador on the literary map.

Nov 24, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Natasha Wimmer

Wing Nut Ex Machina Wing Nut Ex Machina

The ace that the Democrats have in their deck.

Nov 24, 2009 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Those Gentle Danes Those Gentle Danes

When the Nazis began to impose their will on Denmark, the Danes showed one of of their own.

Nov 23, 2009 / Feature / Gunnar Leistikow

x