Essays Archive | Los Angeles Review of Books

All Essays

The Truth Was Out There: On the Legacy of Art Bell
Jesse Robertson considers the legacy of insomnia-prone radio host Art Bell.
Jesse RobertsonNov 22, 2022
Brand America: 100 Years of PENs
Esther Allen reports on the state of PEN America.
Esther AllenNov 19, 2022
The Avenging Goddess of Screenwriters: Remembering Mary C. McCall Jr.
J. E. Smyth commemorates a landmark anniversary of forgotten screenwriter and guild president, the sharp-tongued, blacklisted Mary McCall.
J. E. SmythNov 18, 2022
The US Academy and the Provincialization of Fanon
Frantz Fanon is a rock star of the American academy 60 years after his death. Here’s why it’s critical that we recognize the influence of the Algerian Revolution on his thought.
Muriam Haleh DavisNov 9, 2022
- History
- Politics
Castle King Side: On Stefan Zweig’s “Chess Story”
Adam Dalva confronts his online chess addiction via Stefan Zweig’s “Chess Story.”
Adam DalvaNov 8, 2022
- Fiction
- Memoir & Essay
A Day in Radomsko
A report on Louise Steinman’s book launch in Poland and the larger project of Polish-Jewish reconciliation.
Laurie Winer, Louise SteinmanNov 6, 2022
The First Comedian
Jason Crawford discusses the career of Robert Armin, the first modern comedian.
Jason CrawfordNov 4, 2022
- History
- Literary Criticism
The Dreariness of Book Club Discussions
Book clubs are wildly popular, but, Naomi Kanakia asks, what use are they, really?
Naomi KanakiaNov 2, 2022
- Memoir & Essay
- Nonfiction
The Earth Is a Haunted House: A Conversation Between Stephanie Feldman and Andy Davidson
Andy Davidson and Stephanie Feldman discuss various topics, including their new books “The Hollow Kind” and “Saturnalia,” respectively.
Andy Davidson, Stephanie FeldmanOct 29, 2022
- Fiction
- SF
Literature and Indigeneity: Amazigh Activists’ Construction of an Emerging Literary Field
Brahim El Guabli analyzes the postcolonial emergence of Amazigh literature.
Brahim El GuabliOct 28, 2022
- Around the World
- Literary Criticism
Green Capitalism Is a Scam: A Conversation with Adrienne Buller
Writer Cal Turner and Sara Van Horn interview Adrienne Buller, author of “The Value of a Whale.”
Cal Turner, Sara Van HornOct 27, 2022
Remembering Mike Davis
Tributes to a giant of L.A. letters from his colleagues and students.
David Kipen, Derrick Ortega, John Shannon, Matt Garcia, Peter Sebastian Chesney, William DeverellOct 26, 2022
- History
The House of Amapiano
Sanya Osha explores the joyous energy of the amapiano music genre in South Africa.
Sanya OshaOct 17, 2022
- Around the World
- Music
When a Revolution Tells Children’s Stories
Mina Khanlarzadeh reflects on the children’s stories impacted by the 1979 Iranian Revolution
Mina KhanlarzadehOct 15, 2022
What Comes After the Bailout State?
Martijn Konings discusses implications of government bailouts within the neoliberal order and potential futures for the post-bailout state.
Martijn KoningsOct 14, 2022
- Economics and Finance
- Philosophy & Religion
Unity in Diversity: On Overcoming the Erasure of Kurdistan and Jina Amini
Activists Ala Riani and Rezan Labady explain the significance of the Iran 2022 protests and the need to spotlight Kurdish identities in the face of cultural erasure.
Ala Riani, Rezan LabadyOct 13, 2022