All articles from Arts & Letters Daily
Across decades of friendship, Hannah Arendt and Harold Rosenberg arrived at a unique convergence of ideas about art, action, and authenticity
Across decades of friendship, Hannah Arendt and Harold Rosenberg arrived at a unique convergence of ideas about art, action, and authenticity
Admired by Stalin but banned by censors, Mikhail Bulgakov found himself in a peculiar political position
Admired by Stalin but banned by censors, Mikhail Bulgakov found himself in a peculiar political position
Thanks to the patience of ethicists and neuroscientists, we lack consensus definitions of sentience, intelligence, life, or consciousness
Thanks to the patience of ethicists and neuroscientists, we lack consensus definitions of sentience, intelligence, life, or consciousness
More than 300 years after the reading revolution ushered in a new era of human knowledge, books are dying. The result: We're dumber, less creative, and less free
More than 300 years after the reading revolution ushered in a new era of human knowledge, books are dying. The result: We're dumber, less creative, and less free
The relationships between writers and publishers can be as long-lasting and as complicated as any marriage. Consider Gustave Flaubert and Michel Lévy
The relationships between writers and publishers can be as long-lasting and as complicated as any marriage. Consider Gustave Flaubert and Michel Lévy
Rambling man. Peter Matthiessen traveled to places most writers would never dare to go. What was he running to — or from?
Rambling man. Peter Matthiessen traveled to places most writers would never dare to go. What was he running to — or from?
The “idiot savant” was a rare curio — a genius in one context, helpless in others. The discourse has evolved, but societal fascination remains
The “idiot savant” was a rare curio — a genius in one context, helpless in others. The discourse has evolved, but societal fascination remains
Facing a likely ban at home, the first Slovak novel was approved by censors in Vienna and published by a German printer
Facing a likely ban at home, the first Slovak novel was approved by censors in Vienna and published by a German printer
Sylvia Plath and the "slicks." Her apprenticeship was shaped by a determination — and financial need — to appear in women's magazines
Sylvia Plath and the "slicks." Her apprenticeship was shaped by a determination — and financial need — to appear in women's magazines
A new emphasis on sobriety and moderation renders foreign F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “alcoholic mist” and “lush and liquid garden parties”
A new emphasis on sobriety and moderation renders foreign F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “alcoholic mist” and “lush and liquid garden parties”
James Schuyler didn't sound like other mad poets of his era. His style wasn't frenetic. But that doesn't mean madness didn't alter his sensibility
James Schuyler didn't sound like other mad poets of his era. His style wasn't frenetic. But that doesn't mean madness didn't alter his sensibility
Starbucks never changes, but rivers dry up and democracies collapse. The world we inhabit would be utterly bizarre to our agrarian ancestors
Starbucks never changes, but rivers dry up and democracies collapse. The world we inhabit would be utterly bizarre to our agrarian ancestors
Who will win this year’s Nobel Prize in literature? Bookmakers are favoring Can Xue and László Krasznahorkai
Who will win this year’s Nobel Prize in literature? Bookmakers are favoring Can Xue and László Krasznahorkai
Before he was a bearded celebrity, a Great Man, young Tennyson was gauche, beautiful, ringed by tobacco smoke, and far more interesting
Before he was a bearded celebrity, a Great Man, young Tennyson was gauche, beautiful, ringed by tobacco smoke, and far more interesting
The book business may be centered in New York, but when it comes to advances for debut authors, the attitude is pure Las Vegas
The book business may be centered in New York, but when it comes to advances for debut authors, the attitude is pure Las Vegas
Ann Goldstein and the art of translation: "The goal is to make a writer sound as much like him or herself as possible. Not like you"
Ann Goldstein and the art of translation: "The goal is to make a writer sound as much like him or herself as possible. Not like you"
An unprecedented grand tour of bibliophilic crime: 170 rare Russian books, valued at more than $3 million, gone
An unprecedented grand tour of bibliophilic crime: 170 rare Russian books, valued at more than $3 million, gone
Goethe’s philosophical coordinates came initially from Rousseau and Spinoza, two thinkers who appealed to and fortified his own disposition
Goethe’s philosophical coordinates came initially from Rousseau and Spinoza, two thinkers who appealed to and fortified his own disposition
In 1486, Giovanni Pico was young, handsome, rich, and on his way to Rome to dazzle theologians and the Pope. It didn’t go well
In 1486, Giovanni Pico was young, handsome, rich, and on his way to Rome to dazzle theologians and the Pope. It didn’t go well
For a decade, Francis Fukuyama has been trying to explain the rise of global populism. Now he has an answer
For a decade, Francis Fukuyama has been trying to explain the rise of global populism. Now he has an answer
The book business may be centered in New York, but when it comes to advances for debut authors, the attitude is pure Las Vegas
The book business may be centered in New York, but when it comes to advances for debut authors, the attitude is pure Las Vegas
While many of Gertrude Stein’s books are modern classics, some are ignored as too avant-garde. It’s time to rediscover them
While many of Gertrude Stein’s books are modern classics, some are ignored as too avant-garde. It’s time to rediscover them
One of Kafka’s great themes is paradox. Here’s one: His work defies translation, yet it has attracted very ambitious, talented translators
One of Kafka’s great themes is paradox. Here’s one: His work defies translation, yet it has attracted very ambitious, talented translators
Princeton president Christopher Eisgruber says academia must listen to its critics. So why isn’t he taking his own advice?
Princeton president Christopher Eisgruber says academia must listen to its critics. So why isn’t he taking his own advice?
In 1956, Gore Vidal declared: “I am at heart a propagandist, a tremendous hater, a tiresome nag”
In 1956, Gore Vidal declared: “I am at heart a propagandist, a tremendous hater, a tiresome nag”
The history of vanilla — the world’s favorite flavor — is rife with counterfeiting, pilfering, piracy, smuggling, and account fraud
The history of vanilla — the world’s favorite flavor — is rife with counterfeiting, pilfering, piracy, smuggling, and account fraud
The dodo, the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger: One company believes it can bring them back, making animal extinction a thing of the past
The dodo, the woolly mammoth, the Tasmanian tiger: One company believes it can bring them back, making animal extinction a thing of the past
Many writers find writing agonizing. Few have expressed that feeling as vividly as Cynthia Ozick
Many writers find writing agonizing. Few have expressed that feeling as vividly as Cynthia Ozick
Rachel Ruysch’s reputation once rivalled Rembrant’s. Now, due to snobbery and sexism, her paintings are compared with wallpaper
Rachel Ruysch’s reputation once rivalled Rembrant’s. Now, due to snobbery and sexism, her paintings are compared with wallpaper
An instant classic that has endured for seven centuries, the history of the reception of Dante’s Divine Comedy is a history of Western taste
An instant classic that has endured for seven centuries, the history of the reception of Dante’s Divine Comedy is a history of Western taste
Mary Carleton, the “German Princess,” charged with bigamy and theft, was a sensation in 1660s London. More than 500 people visited her in jail
Mary Carleton, the “German Princess,” charged with bigamy and theft, was a sensation in 1660s London. More than 500 people visited her in jail
Biographers have been likened to fiction writers and professional burglars. Richard Holmes takes a different view
Biographers have been likened to fiction writers and professional burglars. Richard Holmes takes a different view
Know your meme. In the early 2000s, technology, art, and amateurism combined to reach such cultural achievements as LOLcats
Know your meme. In the early 2000s, technology, art, and amateurism combined to reach such cultural achievements as LOLcats