All articles from Arts & Letters Daily
Writers and their day jobs: William S. Burroughs was an exterminator, Joseph Heller a blacksmith. James Joyce worked in a movie theater
Writers and their day jobs: William S. Burroughs was an exterminator, Joseph Heller a blacksmith. James Joyce worked in a movie theater
How Bennett Cerf — "part Gatsby, part glad-handing salesman and part starstruck fanboy" — built a publishing powerhouse, then sold it away
How Bennett Cerf — "part Gatsby, part glad-handing salesman and part starstruck fanboy" — built a publishing powerhouse, then sold it away
Adam Tooze is a renowned economic historian. But is he really “a sort of platonic ideal of the universal intellectual?”
Adam Tooze is a renowned economic historian. But is he really “a sort of platonic ideal of the universal intellectual?”
Sigmund Freud’s plants. He gave Virginia Woolf a narcissus and brought a zimmerlinde on his escape from Vienna. Why?
Sigmund Freud’s plants. He gave Virginia Woolf a narcissus and brought a zimmerlinde on his escape from Vienna. Why?
John — sparsely toothed with mismatched old clothes — could most often be found at UCLA, burnishing his reputation as the last intellectual
John — sparsely toothed with mismatched old clothes — could most often be found at UCLA, burnishing his reputation as the last intellectual
Picasso’s women. "Two wives, four cohabitations: What of it? Genius has license to trample"
Picasso’s women. "Two wives, four cohabitations: What of it? Genius has license to trample"
One night in 1973, three Jackson Pollock paintings were stolen. The case continues to reverberate in surprising ways
One night in 1973, three Jackson Pollock paintings were stolen. The case continues to reverberate in surprising ways
Famous for telling writers to embrace their “shitty first drafts,” Bird by Bird is one of the most popular writing guides of all time. Is it any good?
Famous for telling writers to embrace their “shitty first drafts,” Bird by Bird is one of the most popular writing guides of all time. Is it any good?
The idea of revolution has transformed political thought across two millennia. Can we even agree on what it means?
The idea of revolution has transformed political thought across two millennia. Can we even agree on what it means?
“Telling someone to love literature because reading is good for society is like telling someone to believe in God because religion is good for society”
“Telling someone to love literature because reading is good for society is like telling someone to believe in God because religion is good for society”
Freud died almost 90 years ago. His reputation has gone up and down. Is the jury really still out as to whether psychoanalysis works?
Freud died almost 90 years ago. His reputation has gone up and down. Is the jury really still out as to whether psychoanalysis works?
Representing the “Freak Power” party, Hunter S. Thompson ran for sheriff promising to rip up streets and put any dishonest drug dealers in the stocks
Representing the “Freak Power” party, Hunter S. Thompson ran for sheriff promising to rip up streets and put any dishonest drug dealers in the stocks
Cane, walker, wheelchair: Is old age winter or harvest, depletion or culmination? A history of feeling old
Cane, walker, wheelchair: Is old age winter or harvest, depletion or culmination? A history of feeling old
Cane, walker, wheelchair: Is old age winter or harvest, depletion or culmination? A history of feeling old
Cane, walker, wheelchair: Is old age winter or harvest, depletion or culmination? A history of feeling old
“Authenticity is the supreme literary value, when in fact it is not an aesthetic value at all. Can there be a prescription more discouraging to the imagination?"
“Authenticity is the supreme literary value, when in fact it is not an aesthetic value at all. Can there be a prescription more discouraging to the imagination?"
In 1923, a French woman who could only walk backwards and on her tiptoes sought treatment. And so she met Jacques Lacan
In 1923, a French woman who could only walk backwards and on her tiptoes sought treatment. And so she met Jacques Lacan
In 1894 a German archaeologist discovered the poetry of Bilitis, a Greek contemporary of Sappho’s. There was just one problem
In 1894 a German archaeologist discovered the poetry of Bilitis, a Greek contemporary of Sappho’s. There was just one problem
In C.P. Snow's day, literary intellectuals were the cultural elite. Now the power dynamic has been reversed: STEM dominates the culture
In C.P. Snow's day, literary intellectuals were the cultural elite. Now the power dynamic has been reversed: STEM dominates the culture
“We lose so much when we demand measurability of things that are difficult, if not impossible, to measure — education, taste, health, beauty”
“We lose so much when we demand measurability of things that are difficult, if not impossible, to measure — education, taste, health, beauty”
The 19th-century weavers, croppers, and hosiers who embraced Ned Ludd were heroic, delusional, and doomed to fail. Luddites, then and now
The 19th-century weavers, croppers, and hosiers who embraced Ned Ludd were heroic, delusional, and doomed to fail. Luddites, then and now
John le Carré’s work is being adapted everywhere — TV, museums, theater. Why hasn’t his relevance waned?
John le Carré’s work is being adapted everywhere — TV, museums, theater. Why hasn’t his relevance waned?
In 1951 publishers faced a problem: The manuscript by New York’s most notorious madam was lengthy and boring. And so Virginia Faulkner was called in
In 1951 publishers faced a problem: The manuscript by New York’s most notorious madam was lengthy and boring. And so Virginia Faulkner was called in
The ratio of words written by Kafka to words written about Kafka is estimated to be about 1:10,000,000. Is there anything left to say?
The ratio of words written by Kafka to words written about Kafka is estimated to be about 1:10,000,000. Is there anything left to say?
"Until recently, I never would have said that I fear for the freedom of universities in the United States," says Randall Kennedy. "I fear for the freedom of the universities in the United States now"
"Until recently, I never would have said that I fear for the freedom of universities in the United States," says Randall Kennedy. "I fear for the freedom of the universities in the United States now"
When you spend a long time looking at Diane Arbus photographs, you start to find her in unexpected places
When you spend a long time looking at Diane Arbus photographs, you start to find her in unexpected places
Hans Holbein is best remembered as a painter. But he was remarkably adept at book illustrations, window schemes, and metalwork
Hans Holbein is best remembered as a painter. But he was remarkably adept at book illustrations, window schemes, and metalwork
Oliver Sacks, romantic science, and the facticity of narrative. Lawrence Weschler explains a 35-year friendship
Oliver Sacks, romantic science, and the facticity of narrative. Lawrence Weschler explains a 35-year friendship
Literature’s oddest couple? Norman Mailer and Lawrence Schiller produced a masterpiece and a litany of bad ideas... more
Literature’s oddest couple? Norman Mailer and Lawrence Schiller produced a masterpiece and a litany of bad ideas... more
Science fiction and prophecy. "Something like comfort is achieved when the absurdity of the real begins to look like the far-fetched What If of the imaginary"
Science fiction and prophecy. "Something like comfort is achieved when the absurdity of the real begins to look like the far-fetched What If of the imaginary"
How did Enlightenment philosophers, at the end of their lives, reconcile their ties to the future with the immediacy of death?
How did Enlightenment philosophers, at the end of their lives, reconcile their ties to the future with the immediacy of death?
The status of Leo Strauss. His method involves a wholesale orientation toward intellectual life that is at best misguided and at worst incoherent
The status of Leo Strauss. His method involves a wholesale orientation toward intellectual life that is at best misguided and at worst incoherent