History

"Hegel was right when he said that we learn from history that man can never learn anything from history." — George Bernard Shaw

Brand America: 100 Years of PENs
Esther Allen reports on the state of PEN America.
Esther AllenNov 19, 2022
The Legacy of a Caged Bird: On Gene Andrew Jarrett’s “Paul Laurence Dunbar”
Vesper North considers Gene Andrew Jarrett’s updated biography, “Paul Laurence Dunbar: The Life and Times of a Caged Bird.”
Vesper NorthNov 17, 2022
Going Coastal: On Some Recent Books About the Ecology and History of Beaches
Daniela Blei explores the paradoxes constituted by “the beach” — an allegedly natural place of leisure and fun since the Industrial Revolution, and now the site of our species’ myopia.
Daniela BleiNov 16, 2022
Bookhood: On Emma Smith’s “Portable Magic”
Daniel Blank reviews Emma Smith’s “Portable Magic: A History of Books and Their Readers.”
Daniel BlankNov 15, 2022
- History
- Nonfiction
Containment, Reform, and Abuse: On John T. McGreevy’s “Catholicism”
Kevin Hart reviews John T. McGreevy’s new book, “Catholicism: A Global History from the French Revolution to Pope Francis.”
Kevin HartNov 13, 2022
- History
- Religion
American Revanchism: On Karen Joy Fowler’s “Booth”
Bennett Parten considers Karen Joy Fowler’s new novel, “Booth,” about the United States’ most notorious assassin.
Bennett PartenNov 11, 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
Unexpected Sledgehammer: Noel Ignatiev’s Communist Education
Dylan Davis and Patrick King discuss the impact of Noel Ignatiev on the US labor movement through his books such as “Acceptable Men: Life in the World’s Largest Steel Mill” and “Treason to Whiteness Is Loyalty to Humanity.”
Dylan Davis, Patrick KingNov 9, 2022
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
Doubting Thomas: On Peter Manseau’s “The Jefferson Bible”
Ed Simon reviews Peter Manseau’s “The Jefferson Bible.”
Ed SimonNov 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 Catholic Opposition to Pope Francis: On Massimo Borghesi’s “Catholic Discordance”
Victor Gaetan reviews Massimo Borghesi’s “Neoconservatism vs. the Field Hospital Church of Pope Francis,” translated by Barry Hudock.
Victor GaetanOct 30, 2022