Obama reads Marilynne Robinson
Only FOX could find something snide to say about a presidential candidate reading Gilead.
Only FOX could find something snide to say about a presidential candidate reading Gilead.
“Absalom and Achitophel,” John Dryden’s satirical allegory, disproves the idea that works of political propaganda can never be literature. The year was 1681. England’s King Charles had sired children hither and yon but had no legitimate heir. His Catholic brother, James, stood next in line to the throne. As fear of an alleged “Popish Plot” to kill the king and . . .
It’s no secret that Kafka was fascinated by Berlin, but scholars “haven’t quite done justice to the city’s place in his inner life.”
The brutal reign of the Khmer Rouge, during which at least 1.7 million people died, has been absent from Cambodia’s history books — until now.
The Smart Set is a weekly feature, compiled by Lauren Cerand, that usually appears Mondays at 12:30pm and highlights the best of the week to come. Special favor is given to New York’s independent booksellers and venues, and low-cost and free events. Please send details to lauren [at] maudnewton.com by the Thursday prior to publication, with the date in the . . .