Six Stories with First-Person Narrators
Distinctive voices and unforgettable perspectives, by Danielle Evans, Jamil Jan Kochai, Catherine Niu, Thomas Bernhard, Christine Schutt, and Michael Deagler.
The Hidden Grief of American Musicals
Musicology professor Jake Johnson argues that beneath the bright songs and happy endings of midcentury musicals lay the grief and anxieties of postwar America.
Rudyard Kipling’s Buddhism
Long read as an imperial novel, Kim also reflects Britain's changing ideas about Buddhist thought and spiritual practice.
The Return of Florida’s Wild Flamingos
New sightings suggest a surprising ecological comeback—and a chance to reexamine the state's environmental past.
The Hidden Rules of Fine Dining
Research shows restaurant critics reward technique, creativity, and authenticity differently, shaping which cuisines earn prestige and higher prices.
Celebrating the Fourth of July
Take a moment to contemplate the history and complexity of Independence Day, American Style.
Rediscovering The Jewish Gazette
A rare archive reveals how Ireland’s Jewish community navigated identity, culture, and rising antisemitism in the 1930s.
How Indonesia’s Feminists Use the Internet
Online platforms help Muslim scholars and activists share feminist interpretations of Islam, expanding access to new audiences.
Dorm Life Forever? The Problem with Micro-Living
Research suggests compact housing may normalize economic insecurity rather than address the roots of the affordability crisis.
The Crime That Wasn’t Called Sodomy
In the American Philippines, officials used vagrancy laws to police same-sex relations while avoiding explicit bans.