Ugly Beauty Ugly Beauty
In the fall of 1958, the second book by a young British poet named Philip Larkin made it across the ocean and into the consciousness of American poetry.
Jun 10, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Melanie Rehak
On Native Ground On Native Ground
I've long considered E.L. Doctorow the most American of contemporary writers--in a particularly classic sense.
Jun 10, 2004 / Books & the Arts / David L. Ulin
There He Goes Again There He Goes Again
Near the end of his threadbare, tendentious and dubious hagiography of Ronald Reagan, Peter Schweizer recounts the President's first trip to Moscow, in late spring 1988.
Jun 8, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Walter C. Uhler
The Invisibles The Invisibles
When you go to the Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, you expect the screen to be a window onto the world.
Jun 3, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Stuart Klawans
The ‘I’ of the Beholder The ‘I’ of the Beholder
About fifteen years ago, looking for something to play on my college radio station, I cued up a reel-to-reel tape I'd found in a pile by the wall--and fell in love.
Jun 3, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Douglas Wolk
Don’t Worry, Be Happy Don’t Worry, Be Happy
David Brooks is a writer whose chief claim to fame is not what he says but where he says it.
Jun 3, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Nicholas von Hoffman
The Irresistible Rise of Berlusconi The Irresistible Rise of Berlusconi
Dressed up as a tropical dictator in a sketch by the great Italian political cartoonist Altan, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi wears a double-breasted camouflage jacket, a goony...
Jun 3, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Frederika Randall
What Are They Reading? What Are They Reading?
"If Bush gets re-elected, I'm moving to Canada!" Most of us who've vowed this, at one time or another, won't actually make good on our word.
Jun 2, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Kate Levin
Grapes of Wrath Grapes of Wrath
Several years ago, I did some reporting for a story that I wanted to write about wine and how it's advertised.
May 27, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Matthew DeBord
Cutting Remarks Cutting Remarks
In 1966 Valerie Solanas moved to New York City. At 30, she was already a woman with a difficult past. Growing up in New Jersey, she was molested by her father.
May 27, 2004 / Books & the Arts / Claire Dederer