The Seduction
After years of favoring the endurance-test approach to teaching literature, a professor focuses on how to make books spark to life for her students
By Paula Marantz Cohen Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The Passionate Encounter
A noted midcentury critic has much to say in his journal about his fellow writers and the literary world they shared
By Alfred Kazin Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Reassessing Rossellini
Restoration of Rome Open city, the director’s masterpiece, prompts a look at why he later retreated from the neorealism it introduced
By Joseph Luzzi Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tangled Up in Dylan
The enduring appeal of a legendary American songwriter
By Louis P. Masur Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Bob Dylan by Greil Marcus: Writings 1968–2010By Greil Marcus Bob Dylan in America By Sean Wilentz
Ode to Joy
What makes us happy?
By Priscilla Long Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Exploring Happiness: From Aristotle to Brain Science By Sissela Bok
Girl Power
The enigma who ruled her world
By Gelareh Asayesh Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Cleopatra: A Life By Stacy Schiff
The Writer in the Family
The fiction of E. L. Doctorow gave a young man hope of connecting his father and his literary hero
By Jonathan Liebson Wednesday, January 8, 2025
The Weight of a Stone
Searching for stability in an erratic world led Oliver Sacks and other writers to the realms of geology
By Megan Craig Thursday, January 2, 2025
“The Horses” by Edwin Muir
Poems read aloud, beautifully
By Amanda Holmes Tuesday, December 31, 2024
The Snow Maiden
Our final episode of 2018 is a send-off to the solstice
By Stephanie Bastek Monday, December 30, 2024
Ho Ho Horror
Why not make this Christmas a little darker?