Self-Portrait by Celia Paul
The biographies of artists often make for compelling stories, but what about artist memoirs? Artists, like poets reading their own poems, may not be the best at explaining their work. It can be...
The Late Work of Sam Shepard by Shannon Blake Skelton
When the renowned playwright and actor Sam Shepard passed away, it sparked a moment in culture that invited a fresh look at the diverse aspects of his writing, accomplishments, and fame. While his...
Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow by Alexander Radishchev, translated by Andrew Kahn and...
Alexander Radishchev's 1790 Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow portrays a thoughtful exploration of the Enlightenment principles of equality, justice, and advancement rather than a mere travelogue of the 450-mile journey between two...
Saturation Project by Christine Hume
Saturation Project is a memoir in poetic form written by Christine Hume, a renowned author with a notable body of work. The book comprises three interconnected essays: "Atalanta: An Anatomy," "Hum," and "Ventifacts."...
Let Me Tell You What I Mean by Joan Didion
In a lecture at the University of California, Berkeley in 1976, Joan Didion reminisced about her college days, admitting her struggle to focus on academic topics like "Paradise Lost" and the "Hegelian dialectic."...
Cheever: A Life by Blake Bailey
Blake Bailey gained recognition in 2003 with his well-received biography of Richard Yates, "A Tragic Honesty," which reignited interest in the author's works like "Revolutionary Road" (1961), inspiring a movie adaptation.
Bailey meticulously researched...
Poem That Never Ends by Silvina López Medin
Silvina López Medin is an acclaimed author known for her works and plays. She hails from Buenos Aires and currently works as an editor at Ugly Duckling Presse in New York. Her...
A Farm Dies Once A Year by Arlo Crawford
When growing tomato plants, it's important to stake them six feet apart. Handling okra pods requires careful clipping to avoid skin rashes. Squash plants are sturdy and have a low-lying growth pattern. These...
Feel Free by Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith is well-known for fearlessly addressing challenging topics in her novels and cultural critiques. Her latest essay collection, titled "Feel Free," may suggest light reading but delves into weighty subjects such as...
South and West: From a Notebook by Joan Didion
During times of intense social and political upheaval, we often seek insight and solace from our most articulate journalists and commentators. In the past, luminaries like Norman Mailer, I. F. Stone, Tom Wolfe,...
