North Korea Through the Eyes of an American Dissident

As entertainment that deftly mixes history, satire, pathos, and comedy, Next Stop: North Korea is an unqualified success.

Tim Shorrock

Benedikt Erlingsson’s Fabulist Tale of Eco-Justice

Hilarious and urgent, Woman at War tells the story of one warrior’s quest to fight the forces warming our planet.

Stuart Klawans

Rediscovering Nelson Algren

The literary giant’s unique resonance in our anti-capitalist moment.

Dan Simon

Berryman

A poem from the celebrated late poet, W. S. Merwin.

W.S. Merwin

Remembering W.S. Merwin

Revisit the work of one of America’s great poets in the pages of The Nation. 

The Nation

Jack Whitten’s Journals Are a Future Classic of Art Writing

Notes From the Woodshed, a recent collection of Jack Whitten’s journal entries and writings, give an invaluable peek in the artistic process.

Barry Schwabsky

A Century With Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Happy 100th birthday to the essential Beat poet. 

The Nation

Life in the Stupidverse Continues

Another week with Donald Trump and his merry band of idiots.

Tom Tomorrow

Jeremy Denk Explains the History of Western Classical Music (Yes, All of It!)

The pianist’s new album, c. 1300–c. 2000, gives a listener a lesson in seven centuries of composition, from Monteverdi to Stockhausen and beyond.

David Hajdu

Who’s the Dummy?

Calvin Trillin