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?
By Stephanie Bastek Friday, December 27, 2024
Remember Statecraft?
What diplomacy can do and why we need it more than ever
By Dennis Ross Friday, June 1, 2007
Gazing Into the Abyss
The sudden appearance of love and the galvanizing prospect of death lead a young poet back to poetry and a “hope toward God”
By Christian Wiman Friday, June 1, 2007
‘Mem, Mem, Mem’
After a stroke, a prolific novelist struggles to say how the mental world of aphasia looks and feels
By Paul West Friday, June 1, 2007
Between Two Worlds
The familar story of Pocahontas was mirrored by that of a young Englishman given as a hostage to her father
By Christopher Clausen Friday, June 1, 2007
Fragments of Paradise
Gardens like those of Friedrich II at Sanssouci help us to read the world
By Alberto Manguel Friday, June 1, 2007
Arthur of Camelot
Remembering Arthur Schlesinger, a knight-errant with typewriter
By Ted Widmer Friday, June 1, 2007
The Short Reign of Fred Allen
Jack Benny’s comic rival starred in a program refiguring “Weekend Update” and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart