History

St. Louis

The City That Embodies the United States’ Contradictions The City That Embodies the United States’ Contradictions

In the history of St. Louis, we find both a radical and reactionary past—and a more hopeful future too.

May 17, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Robert Greene II

The Entwined History of Freedom and Racism

The Entwined History of Freedom and Racism The Entwined History of Freedom and Racism

In White Freedom, historian Tyler Stovall examines how liberty for some has always entailed a lack of liberty for many others.  

May 3, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Olúfémi O. Táíwò

John Edgar Wideman

The Craft of John Edgar Wideman The Craft of John Edgar Wideman

A conversation with one of the greatest living Black American writers on work, life, and why good fiction is like a game of basketball.

Apr 26, 2021 / Q&A / Elias Rodriques

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

Benito Mussolini

Are We Living in an Age of Strongmen? Are We Living in an Age of Strongmen?

A new book by Ruth Ben-Ghiat discusses the past and present challenges posed by authoritarianism, but misses the social and economic conditions in which it arises.

Apr 6, 2021 / Books & the Arts / David A. Bell

Gogol by Ciardiello

Gogol’s Bullshit Jobs Gogol’s Bullshit Jobs

His biting satires of Russian bureaucracy examined the random cruelty and arbitrary hierarchy of an empire in crisis.

Apr 5, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Jennifer Wilson

The Night the Nazis Came to Murder My Grandfather

The Night the Nazis Came to Murder My Grandfather The Night the Nazis Came to Murder My Grandfather

John Heartfield was a lifelong foe of fascism who used his art as a weapon—and whose devastating portrayals of Hitler, Goering, and Mussolini nearly cost him his life.

Mar 26, 2021 / Feature / John J Heartfield and Lance Hansen

Ami Ayalon’s Political Journey

Ami Ayalon’s Political Journey Ami Ayalon’s Political Journey

In Friendly Fire, the former Shin Bet director offers two narratives—one of the story that Israel tells the world, the other of the story Israel tries not to tell the world.

Mar 23, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Raja Shehadeh

The Burning of the Château d’Eau at the Palais-Royal

The Untold History of Freedom The Untold History of Freedom

A new book charts the tension between individual and collective notions of liberty.

Mar 22, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Tyler Stovall

Walter LaFeber

The Remarkable Influence of Walter LaFeber The Remarkable Influence of Walter LaFeber

The Cornell University diplomatic historian inspired generations of students—including me.

Mar 17, 2021 / Eric Alterman

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