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."

The novelist and critic discusses the "ecology of terror" and the challenge of writing with honesty.

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.