Biography & Autobiography

"I don't think anyone should write their autobiography until after they're dead." — Samuel Goldwyn

Examining Phillis Wheatley
Hollis Robbins examines the legend of Phillis Wheatley, the first African American published poet.
Hollis RobbinsDec 19, 2022
- Biography & Autobiography
- Poetry
The Many Faces of Felix Frankfurter: On Brad Snyder’s “Democratic Justice”
Paul Finkelman reviews Brad Snyder's "Democratic Justice: Felix Frankfurter, the Supreme Court, and the Making of the Liberal Establishment."
Paul FinkelmanDec 13, 2022
Hurt Just the Right Way: A Conversation with Emi Nietfeld
Natasia Pelowski speaks with Emi Nietfeld about her new memoir, “Acceptance.”
Natasia PelowskiDec 13, 2022
- Biography & Autobiography
- Memoir & Essay
Beyond Liberalism?: On Raymond Geuss’s “Not Thinking Like a Liberal”
Richard Eldridge reviews Raymond Geuss’s “Not Thinking Like a Liberal.”
Richard EldridgeDec 11, 2022
A Communion of Pathless Solitudes: On Adam Nicolson’s “The Making of Poetry”
Joshua Hren reviews Adam Nicolson’s “The Making of Poetry: Coleridge, the Wordsworths, and Their Year of Marvels.”
Joshua HrenDec 11, 2022
A Down-and-Out but Amusing Character: On Alex Harvey’s “Song Noir”
Dec Ryan reviews Alex Harvey’s “Song Noir: Tom Waits and the Spirit of Los Angeles.”
Declan RyanDec 9, 2022
All of the Monsters (In Which I Accuse James Purdy of Throwing My Four-Year-Old Child Down Two Flights of Stairs Using His Powers of Telekinesis): On Michael Snyder’s “James Purdy”
Matthew Stadler recalls his friend James Purdy via Michael Snyder’s new biography of the novelist, playwright, and poet, “James Purdy: Life of a Contrarian Writer.”
Matthew StadlerDec 3, 2022
The Masks of Xi Jinping: On Alfred L. Chan’s “Xi Jinping” and Joseph Torigian’s “Prestige, Manipulation, and Coercion”
Who is Xi Jinping and what comes after? Martin Laflamme reviews Alfred L. Chan’s biography of Xi Jinping and Joseph Torigian’s study of power struggles in the Soviet Union and the PRC.
Martin LaflammeDec 2, 2022
California, Coming Home: On Julia Scheeres and Allison Gilbert’s “Listen, World!”
Lauren Arrington considers a biography of influential newspaper columnist Elsie Robinson, “Listen, World! How the Intrepid Elsie Robinson Became America’s Most-Read Woman” by Julia Scheeres and Allison Gilbert.
Lauren ArringtonNov 28, 2022
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
Private Domain: On Ada Calhoun’s “Also a Poet”
Alec Pollak reviews Ada Calhoun’s ”Also a Poet: Frank O'Hara, My Father, and Me.”
Alec PollakNov 21, 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