Biography

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

Does Christopher Hitchens Need an Authorized Biography?

Does Christopher Hitchens Need an Authorized Biography? Does Christopher Hitchens Need an Authorized Biography?

Attempts by the former Nation columnist’s widow and literary agent to police a biography are both futile and short-sighted.

Jan 29, 2021 / Feature / David Nasaw

Letters Icon

Letters From the November 11/December 7, 2020, Issue Letters From the November 11/December 7, 2020, Issue

Hofstadter’s legacy…

Nov 17, 2020 / Our Readers and Jeet Heer

How Did American Cities Become So Unequal?

How Did American Cities Become So Unequal? How Did American Cities Become So Unequal?

A new history of Ed Logue and his vision of urban renewal documents the broken promises of midcentury liberalism.

Oct 19, 2020 / Books & the Arts / Kim Phillips-Fein

Synthesizing Sound and Self

Synthesizing Sound and Self Synthesizing Sound and Self

The vexed legacy of electronic music pioneer Wendy Carlos.

Oct 15, 2020 / Sasha Geffen

x