Biography & Autobiography

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

The Limelight Kid
John Tytell reviews Mary V. Dearborn’s new biography of Hemingway.
John TytellJul 25, 2017
- Biography & Autobiography
Crime and Publishing: The Story of Jack Abbott and Norman Mailer
Remembering Jack Abbott, the convicted murderer who was Norman Mailer’s literary protégé.
Rachel MonroeJul 23, 2017
- Biography & Autobiography
- History
The Art of Excess
Skye C. Cleary talks to Gary Cox about his new biography, “Existentialism and Excess: The Life and Times of Jean-Paul Sartre.”
Skye C. ClearyJul 22, 2017
- Biography & Autobiography
- Philosophy & Religion
Wild Thing: A New Biography of Thoreau
A quiet bombshell of a biography that reclaims a revolutionary Thoreau for the 21st century.
Daegan MillerJul 16, 2017
- Biography & Autobiography
Who Does He Favor?
Rachel Masilamani offers a graphic portrait revisiting the 2016 presidential campaign. Part of the July 2017 Smithsonian Asian American Literature Festival.
Rachel MasilamaniJul 9, 2017
One Fait Accompli After Another: Mikhail Gorbachev on the New Russia
Tom Gallagher appreciates “The New Russia,” a political autobiography by Mikhail Gorbachev.
Tom GallagherJul 8, 2017
The Myth of an Apolitical Montaigne
Robert Minto assays “Montaigne: A Life” by Philippe Desan, which restores the great essayist’s political dimension.
Robert MintoJul 3, 2017
The Objectionist: The Life and Times of William F. Buckley Jr.
William F. Buckley Jr. loved to yell “stop” no matter what was moving, says our reviewer.
Andrew BurtJun 20, 2017
- Biography & Autobiography
- Politics
Have a Carrot, Have Two
Glen Roven on Amy Gary's "In the Great Green Room," a biography of "Goodnight Moon" author Margaret Wise Brown.
Glen RovenMay 23, 2017
- Biography & Autobiography
- Young Adult & Children’s Literature
A Tapestry of Fame and Failure
Noah Kennedy reviews George Prochnik's "Stranger in a Strange Land."
Noah KennedyMay 21, 2017
The American Sputnik: Van Cliburn Heats Up the Cold War
Tim Riley reviews two new books about pianist Van Cliburn.
Tim RileyMay 10, 2017
- Biography & Autobiography
- Music
How to “Madame President”
Chris Fink talks to Helene Cooper about her new biography of the first democratically elected female head of state in Africa.
Chris FinkApr 1, 2017
- Biography & Autobiography
- Politics