Bright Lights Hits the Big 4-0
Jay McInerney made his literary debut with Bright Lights, Big City. On its anniversary, the hedonistic Manhattan novel still defines his career, and a bygone era
Defining “Weird”
Trump is the exemplar of something, but what is it, exactly?
Roots of Evil
Nearly 100 of Alfred Kubin’s early illustrations go on display at the Albertina Modern, in Vienna
Mein Gang
In an interview, British historian Richard J. Evans discusses the personalities drawn to Nazism, today’s authoritarian leaders, and his new book, Hitler’s People
Escaping the Fame Trap
Josh Hartnett gave up Hollywood stardom for small movies, family life, and a herd of pygmy goats in the British countryside
The Godmother of the French New Wave
The first major biography of Agnès Varda traces her path from occasional movie watcher to pioneering director
Konstantin Kakanias’s Guide to Athens
The Greek artist shares his favorite spots in his home city
Saltburn on the French Riviera
On this week’s podcast, John von Sothen takes us inside the scandal rocking one of France’s great hotels
Where Poetry Comes to Die
Annie Clark, the alternative singer and three-time Grammy winner known as St. Vincent, performs her first self-produced album, All Born Screaming, on her international tour
From Pomp to Purity
A new book collects images of 18th-century French furniture, interiors, architecture, art, and fashion, celebrating the period’s timeless influence
Hillbilly Eulogy
What happens if Trump regrets choosing J. D. Vance as his running mate? And then blames it on Biden?
Devil’s Bargain
A 2004 visit with the future Nobel laureate Alice Munro left me with a slightly uneasy feeling. Now I know why
The Artful Dodger
In his early 20s, Orlando Whitfield befriended Inigo Philbrick, an ambitious young art dealer. Over the next 15 years, his pal defrauded clients to the tune of $86 million
The Best of Times, the Worst of Times
New to Beethoven’s only opera, Lise Davidsen transcends a director’s funny stuff
Editor’s Picks
This week, don’t miss a riveting exploration of refrigeration and 50 years of Seamus Heaney’s letters
