Biography

What Happened to Andrew Cuomo?

What Happened to Andrew Cuomo? What Happened to Andrew Cuomo?

Ross Barkan’s The Prince tracks how the son of a progressive New York governor transformed into one focused on one thing above all else: power.

Jul 28, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Raina Lipsitz

Francis Bacon

Behind the Hedonist Persona of Francis Bacon Behind the Hedonist Persona of Francis Bacon

Annalyn Swan and Mark Stevens’s comprehensive study of the British artist is a sensitive investigation into his artistic identity.

Jun 9, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Tausif Noor

Corrugated Tin Facade / Tin Building WALKER EVANS

The Anti-Nostalgia of Walker Evans The Anti-Nostalgia of Walker Evans

A recent biography reveals the many contradictions of the photographer who fastidiously documented postwar American life.

Jun 8, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Rahel Aima

Graham Greene’s God

Graham Greene’s God Graham Greene’s God

As a new biography shows, the British novelist was always haunted by, and uncertain about, his own faith.

May 4, 2021 / Books & the Arts / John Banville

Phillip Roth

Philip Roth and His Defensive Fans Are Their Own Worst Enemies Philip Roth and His Defensive Fans Are Their Own Worst Enemies

Why did it take a sexual assault scandal to raise red flags about a deeply flawed biography?

Apr 30, 2021 / Jeet Heer

Philip Roth biography

Blake Bailey’s Life as a Man Blake Bailey’s Life as a Man

The disgraced writer’s Philip Roth biography is a document of a misogynist literary world. But I had to read the book to get the whole story.

Apr 28, 2021 / Katha Pollitt

Joe From Scranton

Joe From Scranton Joe From Scranton

Since Biden has taken office, he has signed a wide array of legislation into law. But once the more immediate emergencies have passed, will he have the will and desire to enact a s...

Apr 20, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Kim Phillips-Fein

Marx for Our Times

Marx for Our Times Marx for Our Times

A new book explores the social democratic impulses and Jewish origins of Karl Marx.

Apr 19, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Bruce Robbins

Vernadette Vicuña Gonzalez

The General, the Mistress, and the Love Stories That Blind Us The General, the Mistress, and the Love Stories That Blind Us

Vernadette Vicuña Gonzalez discusses her new book on Isabel Cooper, a Filipina American actress and Douglas MacArthur’s lover.

Apr 5, 2021 / Q&A / Noah Flora

Lady Bird Johnson

Lady Bird Johnson’s Influence in the LBJ Administration Was Minimized for Far Too Long Lady Bird Johnson’s Influence in the LBJ Administration Was Minimized for Far Too Long

Ignoring women’s contributions isn’t just an issue of fairness. The problem is that we simply get our history wrong.

Mar 23, 2021 / Katrina vanden Heuvel

x