Biography & Autobiography

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

The Mexican Phoenix Rises: On “Sor Juana: Or, the Persistence of Pop”
Ed Simon considers “Sor Juana: Or, the Persistence of Pop” by Ilan Stavans.
Ed SimonFeb 27, 2019
A Genius for Being Human
Aurelian Craiutu reviews Henry Hardy's "In Search of Isaiah Berlin: A Literary Adventure."
Aurelian CraiutuFeb 19, 2019
Granted: The Best
Bob Blaisdell pores over “The Annotated Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant” and “My Dearest Julia: The Wartime Letters of Ulysses S. Grant to His Wife.”
Bob BlaisdellFeb 7, 2019
A (Not So) Secular Saint
A new biography details the religious life of a liberal icon.
James K. A. SmithFeb 6, 2019
Here Lies One Whose Name Was Writ in Erasure: Cy Twombly, the Indolent Dauphin of Keatsian Negative Capability
One of the major threads throughout “Chalk” is that the erasures and omissions in Twombly’s art mirror the erasures and omissions of Twombly’s life.
Tyler MaloneJan 26, 2019
- Art & Architecture
- Biography & Autobiography
Not a “No Comment” Person: On Lindsey Hilsum’s “In Extremis: The Life and Death of the War Correspondent Marie Colvin”
Stephanie Sy-Quia reviews “In Extremis: The Life and Death of the War Correspondent Marie Colvin” by Lindsey Hilsum.
Stephanie Sy-QuiaJan 16, 2019
With Love and Squalor: On Lili Anolik’s “Hollywood’s Eve: Eve Babitz and the Secret History of L.A.”
Lauren Sarazen praises “Hollywood’s Eve: Eve Babitz and the Secret History of L.A.” by Lili Anolik.
Lauren SarazenJan 14, 2019
- Biography & Autobiography
Erotic Tyranny
"Nobody fully understands Alcibiades, which is why he continually fascinates." Ryan Shinkel on "Nemesis: Alcibiades and the Fall of Athens."
Ryan ShinkelDec 31, 2018
- Biography & Autobiography
- History
The Road to Roxbury: On Linda Gordon’s “Inge Morath: Magnum Legacy”
Geoff Nicholson takes stock of “Inge Morath: Magnum Legacy” by Linda Gordon.
Geoff NicholsonDec 26, 2018
- Art & Architecture
- Biography & Autobiography
Tolstoy Untangled: On Donna Tussing Orwin’s “Simply Tolstoy”
Bob Blaisdell appreciates “Simply Tolstoy” by Donna Tussing Orwin.
Bob BlaisdellDec 25, 2018
- Biography & Autobiography
- Literary Criticism
A Book of Silences
“In some ways, ‘Chalk’ takes readers on a failed journey.” John Glassie on Joshua Rivkin’s new biography of Cy Twombly.
John GlassieDec 16, 2018
- Art & Architecture
- Biography & Autobiography
The Window and the World: On Joshua Sperling’s “A Writer of Our Time: The Life and Work of John Berger”
Robert Minto looks at “A Writer of Our Time: The Life and Work of John Berger” by Joshua Sperling.
Robert MintoDec 12, 2018