Books & the Arts

Truth, Fiction and Frey Truth, Fiction and Frey

James Frey's faux memoir exposes corporate publishing as an industry so starved for bestsellers that it is unable to protect itself from fraud.

Jan 26, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Matthew Flamm

A Second-Line Revival A Second-Line Revival

Storm-whipped New Orleanians returned to the city to join a joyful second-line parade, a revival of music that made real the triumph of the city's spirit.

Jan 25, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Billy Sothern

The Unquiet American The Unquiet American

Reviews of Why We Fight, Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World and Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story.

Jan 25, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Stuart Klawans

The Master of Modernismo The Master of Modernismo

Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío, all but unknown in English-speaking countries, had a global impact on literature, ushering Spanish poetry into the modern era.

Jan 25, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Roberto González Echevarría

Music for the End of Time Music for the End of Time

A new biography examines the life and work of composer and theorist Olivier Messiaen, who moved French music out of the cafes and back to the cathedrals.

Jan 25, 2006 / Books & the Arts / David Schiff

President Jonah President Jonah

As his State of the Union message approaches, we deserve a rest from the fundamentalist presidency of G.W. Bush, whose guiding principles are antithetical to democracy and will onl...

Jan 25, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Gore Vidal

Soul Eyes Soul Eyes

Fra Angelico's genius for depicting the interior life--states of love, spirituality or anguish--is stirring the interest of contemporary artists.

Jan 19, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Arthur C. Danto

Just Us Just Us

Three books examine American history through the scope of racism and racial identity.

Jan 19, 2006 / Books & the Arts / David Oshinsky

Pity the Region Pity the Region

Robert Fisk's The Great War for Civilization criticizes a self-righteous US foreign policy oblivious to the power of retributive justice in the Middle East.

Jan 19, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Augustus Richard Norton

The Cost of Integrity The Cost of Integrity

The recent controversy over false claims in James Frey's The recent controversy over false claims in James Frey's best-selling memoir "A Million Little Pieces" raises questions abo...

Jan 13, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Richard Kluger

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