Books and Ideas

Battle Pieces Battle Pieces

In This Republic of Suffering, historian Drew Gilpin Faust strips from the Civil War any purpose beyond massive slaughter.

Jan 10, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Eric Foner

United We Scam United We Scam

Two new books profile the generation of counterfeiters and con men who sprouted up in Jacksonian-era America.

Jan 10, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Steve Fraser

Christianizing US History Christianizing US History

With House Resolution 888, the religious right seeks to rewrite American history, turning the founding fathers from deists to Christian fundamentalists.

Jan 10, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Chris Hedges

A Lame Duck President During the Presidential Primaries A Lame Duck President During the Presidential Primaries

Whatever happened to what's-his-name?

Jan 9, 2008 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Jinnah’s New Republic Jinnah’s New Republic

Seldom has a state been created under such contradictory pressures or with such a load of full-grown problems.

Jan 9, 2008 / Feature / Andrew Roth

The Dot Matrix The Dot Matrix

In I'jaam: An Iraqi Rhapsody, novelist Sinan Antoon explores themes of love, loss, identity and resistance in the face of political oppression.

Jan 3, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Laila Lalami

Fly Papers Fly Papers

An English translation of Lydie Salvayre's The Power of Flies demonstrates how this novelist and practicing psychiatrist has earned more nervous respect than love in France.

Jan 3, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Lorna Scott Fox

Castro Helps Chavez Avert a Coup Castro Helps Chavez Avert a Coup

An excerpt from Fidel Castro: My Life, a spoken autobiography.

Jan 3, 2008 / Books & the Arts / The Nation

Mitt Romney As Doll Mitt Romney As Doll

Wonder what this guy is made of?

Jan 2, 2008 / Column / Calvin Trillin

A Human Pledge A Human Pledge

The most important American love poet in living memory, Robert Creeley celebrated the body and its ambivalent desires with a touch as light as a song.

Jan 2, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Susan Stewart

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