The author's reflections on the turmoil in the land of his birth speak with renewed urgency.

Spanning the globe with adventurous writers in exotic locales throughout history.

A novelist traces the lives of the writers whose voices echo in his imagination.

A new collection helps readers to appreciate the "new yet unapproachable" American thinker.

The globe-trotting essayist contemplates his greatest influence.

A comprehensive look at the life and divided affections of the Italian poet.

A new collection showcases a sharp-tongued, prolific voice from The New Yorker's glory days.

Did a poem discovered by an Italian book collector make the Renaissance possible?

How a death on a farm led to a monument of children's literature.

Uncle Tom's Cabin changed the world.  But is it worth reading now?

Heinrich Böll's novels confront the horror of Germany's past—and its willingness to turn away.

The surprisingly up-to-date guide to life found in the classic novelist's work.

Have we had a great New York novel in the past decade?

A celebration of the genius of Washington Irving and the enduring imaginative life of his greatest tale, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Why are women's friendships so inadequately caught in the pages of books? asks Jessa Crispin.

The Spanish novelist updates his 1975 novel, which explores the half-century impact of his country's devastating civil war.

Facing personal loss, the prolific novelist turns to the books and authors that have fired her life's work. Read more...

A long-out-of-print American classic that played the familiar melody of a family struggle in an exuberant new key.

A stimulating exploration of the motives that have driven people to find other authors for Shakespeare's plays.

Helen Oyeyemi on why the enigmatic author of "The Lottery" retains her grip on the dark side of our imaginations.

An introduction to each and every one of Shakespeare's plays, offered by one of their most sensitive readers.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen is a literary titan. But why?

Naked Lunch at 50: Does Burroughs’ classic of cut-up lit add up?

A poet's death sparks a meditation on fiction, longing, and solitude.

Last interviews and an early novel from the author of The Savage Detectives and 2666.