All articles from Arts & Letters Daily
Jamaica Kincaid: “I find England ugly…I hate England; the weather is like a jail sentence…the food in England is like a jail sentence”
Jamaica Kincaid: “I find England ugly…I hate England; the weather is like a jail sentence…the food in England is like a jail sentence”
Making it in a non-existent profession. The economics of the writing life are grim, mercurial, and infrequently discussed
Making it in a non-existent profession. The economics of the writing life are grim, mercurial, and infrequently discussed
"Most historians would rather go out naked in public than prune their copious footnotes." Not Albert O. Hirschman
"Most historians would rather go out naked in public than prune their copious footnotes." Not Albert O. Hirschman
Are do-gooders an inferior class, consigned to drudgery? Elizabeth Anderson traces the contours of the progressive work ethic
Are do-gooders an inferior class, consigned to drudgery? Elizabeth Anderson traces the contours of the progressive work ethic
In early-19th century Britain, body snatchers were such a problem that lead coffins, metal cages, and other hardware were used to protect the dead
In early-19th century Britain, body snatchers were such a problem that lead coffins, metal cages, and other hardware were used to protect the dead
Heart palpitations, stomach lurches, sweaty palms: What it's like to spend a year inside the Stephen King archive
Heart palpitations, stomach lurches, sweaty palms: What it's like to spend a year inside the Stephen King archive
The book review flourished in tandem with the Enlightenment. Now both are in decline, leaving a great deal at stake. David Bell explains
The book review flourished in tandem with the Enlightenment. Now both are in decline, leaving a great deal at stake. David Bell explains
“People in government today obviously don’t care about literature, so the effort to ridicule them in literature can seem pointless or (worse) harmless”
“People in government today obviously don’t care about literature, so the effort to ridicule them in literature can seem pointless or (worse) harmless”
Gin and secrets: We know that the Cambridge Five betrayed Britain, but the damage runs deeper than previously thought
Gin and secrets: We know that the Cambridge Five betrayed Britain, but the damage runs deeper than previously thought
AI’s grandiose paradoxes. It will bring us heaven on earth or kill us all, we’re told; it is the most important invention in history or a scam
AI’s grandiose paradoxes. It will bring us heaven on earth or kill us all, we’re told; it is the most important invention in history or a scam
Robert Musil offers a salve for Western egocentrism: The self is not a single, enduring substance but a collection of sensations
Robert Musil offers a salve for Western egocentrism: The self is not a single, enduring substance but a collection of sensations
When contrarianism becomes its own orthodoxy: The heterodox movement is replicating the groupthink it set out to cure
When contrarianism becomes its own orthodoxy: The heterodox movement is replicating the groupthink it set out to cure
“The humanities are not a system for the production of positive ‘research results.’ They are a practice of self-cultivation, or they are nothing”
“The humanities are not a system for the production of positive ‘research results.’ They are a practice of self-cultivation, or they are nothing”
Great diarists open up the entire folio of their lives. Samuel Pepys was a great diarist. He was also a wretched human being
Great diarists open up the entire folio of their lives. Samuel Pepys was a great diarist. He was also a wretched human being
“Hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon.” Marx on a work-free future. His son-in-law had a stranger cause: the right to be lazy
“Hunt in the morning, fish in the afternoon.” Marx on a work-free future. His son-in-law had a stranger cause: the right to be lazy
“At its most idyllic, siblinghood can be a fragile utopia, a protomarriage of equals, a playroom, a shelter from the parents or the world”
“At its most idyllic, siblinghood can be a fragile utopia, a protomarriage of equals, a playroom, a shelter from the parents or the world”
In the 16th century, with telescopes and microscopes emerging, a curious malady emerged: Men believing they were made of glass
In the 16th century, with telescopes and microscopes emerging, a curious malady emerged: Men believing they were made of glass
The "literacy crisis" is older than the iPhone and AI. Dante faced it, so did Wordsworth. Crisis is writing's natural condition
The "literacy crisis" is older than the iPhone and AI. Dante faced it, so did Wordsworth. Crisis is writing's natural condition
By the mid-1930s Frank Lloyd Wright was seen as a relic of a previous era. Then he created a new kind of American sublime
By the mid-1930s Frank Lloyd Wright was seen as a relic of a previous era. Then he created a new kind of American sublime
Willa Cather’s will prohibited the direct quotation of her letters. The result was a bizarre, confused scholarly morass
Willa Cather’s will prohibited the direct quotation of her letters. The result was a bizarre, confused scholarly morass
Jürgen Habermas, “a rationalist when it was unfashionable to be one,” died last month. He was 96... Foreign Policy... Jan-Werner Müller... Matt McManus... Cass Sunstein... Nancy Fraser... Alexander C. Karp...
Jürgen Habermas, “a rationalist when it was unfashionable to be one,” died last month. He was 96... Foreign Policy... Jan-Werner Müller... Matt McManus... Cass Sunstein... Nancy Fraser... Alexander C.
Jan Morris correctly predicted that whatever her merits as writer, her obituary would inevitably read "Sex Change Author Dies"
Jan Morris correctly predicted that whatever her merits as writer, her obituary would inevitably read "Sex Change Author Dies"
Nobody understands Gertrude Stein. With her, incomprehension was always, at least partly, the point
Nobody understands Gertrude Stein. With her, incomprehension was always, at least partly, the point
Drug addict, confidence man, adulterer: The attacks on Freud’s reputation may matter in an academic context, but not in a literary one
Drug addict, confidence man, adulterer: The attacks on Freud’s reputation may matter in an academic context, but not in a literary one
Danielle Allen is a rare liberal academic who takes conservatism seriously. But she is far more interesting than the label “moderate” might suggest
Danielle Allen is a rare liberal academic who takes conservatism seriously. But she is far more interesting than the label “moderate” might suggest
“Always read the magazine you’re submitting to.” “Don’t resubmit the same day.” And other advice from literary magazine editors
“Always read the magazine you’re submitting to.” “Don’t resubmit the same day.” And other advice from literary magazine editors
Pedants are irritating. They're also essential. The know-it-all is civilization's last line of defense
Pedants are irritating. They're also essential. The know-it-all is civilization's last line of defense