Daniel Aaron: Americanist
Daniel Aaron, a forerunner in the field of American Studies, has passed away at 103.
The Best Book You’ve Never Read
The best book you've never read may just be 'Kristin Lavransdatter,' which won its author Sigrid Undset the Nobel Prize in 1928.
Charles Dickens and the Linguistic Art of the Minor Character
Charles Dickens' characters are famous for their elaborate, often hilarious names. Even for bit parts, Dickens' naming conventions were linguistically rich.
How Victorian Writers Eroticized Mormons
Victorian anti-Mormonism meant 19th-century Americans were both fascinated and frightened by Mormons' marriage and sexual practices.
The One Thing Parents Really Need
The prologue of Catherine Newman’s new parenting memoir Catastrophic Happiness: Finding Joy in Childhood’s Messy Years, evocatively called ...
Women Write War Fiction, Too
Women do write war fiction, and that oft-ignored body of literature deserves another look.
O.J. Simpson: Media Spectacle Then and Now
O.J. Simpson is back in the news, and a whole new journalistic frenzy has begun.
A Conversation with Alexander Chee
While fact-checking his critically acclaimed novel about an enigmatic soprano of the Paris Opera , Chee happened upon a piece of information on JSTOR he could not ignore.
Shakespeare: Dead or Alive?
Shakespeare's authorship has been questioned by many, including Mark Twain.
Put This Poem in Your Pocket
The Academy of American Poets has declared it Poem in Your Pocket Day. We’re not complaining; we’re suggesting you ...