History

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

New York City and the Staging of Disaster
From the Dreamland amusement park to the modern disaster movie, New York has always thrived at the edge of catastrophe.
Andy ReischlingAug 9, 2020
- Art & Architecture
- History
America’s “Mein Kampf”: Francis Parker Yockey and “Imperium”
A shadowy fascist, the late Francis P. Yockey (1917–1960) has followers today.
Anthony MostromAug 8, 2020
- History
- Politics
Racism and Capitalism in St. Louis
A new history of St. Louis shows it again as a national microcosm, though not in flattering ways.
David RoedigerAug 8, 2020
- History
- Politics
A Darker View of the Renaissance
A new book explores the ugly underside of the Italian Renaissance.
John T. ScottAug 6, 2020
Enduring Strength: On Anne Applebaum’s “Twilight of Democracy”
Robert Zaretsky finds reasons for hope in “Twilight of Democracy” by Anne Applebaum.
Robert ZaretskyAug 3, 2020
Real Life Rock Top 10: July 2020
LARB presents the July installment of “Real Life Rock Top 10,” a monthly column by cultural critic Greil Marcus.
Greil MarcusJul 31, 2020
The Virtues and Vices of a Faltering Republic: On Michael Tomasky’s “If We Can Keep It”
Edward Watts considers "If We Can Keep It: How the Republic Collapsed and How it Might Be Saved," the recently published book by Michael Tomasky.
Edward WattsJul 31, 2020
In Search of Shakespeare’s Mind
Daniel Blank ponders "How to Think Like Shakespeare," the new book from Scott Newstok.
Daniel BlankJul 28, 2020
When the US Government Went After Anti-Nazi Hollywood
LARB presents an excerpt from “Hollywood Hates Hitler! ” by Chris Yogerst.
Chris YogerstJul 27, 2020
Enduring Cold War Imperialism: On Vincent Bevins’s “The Jakarta Method”
A review of Vincent Bevins’s reflections on America’s efforts to maintain power during the Cold War.
Leo SchwartzJul 25, 2020
The World the Jakarta Method Built: A Conversation with Vincent Bevins
A renowned journalist discusses his new book about US foreign policy during the Cold War era.
Lewis PageJul 25, 2020
Don Franzen and Jesse Wegman Discuss Abolishing the Electoral College
A conversation about the past and future of the Electoral College.
Don Franzen, Jesse WegmanJul 23, 2020