Heart of Stone
The life of Confederate general Albert Pike, a member of the Freemasons, offers a new look at the secret brotherhood
Stay Unplugged
Acoustic antitoxins from Aimee Mann, the Kinks, Amy Winehouse, Eric Clapton, and more
A Different Sputnik
Oksana Akinshina stands out as the hardened heroine of a Russian version of Alien
Reappearing Inque
An interview with the founder of a Kickstarter-funded literary magazine that’s defying the rules of digital media
Going, Going, Gonzo
Ahead of the late writer’s centenary, celebrating Charles Bukowski’s work and mourning his world
A Dickens Masterpiece for These Times
David Copperfield is no dusty relic but something sparkling—and very modern
Louche Life
Meet Alessandro Ristori, the Riviera’s favorite retro lounge singer
Canon Blast
Sweet melodies from the Great American Songbook, as played by Louis Armstrong, Paul Robeson, Benny Goodman, Gene Austin, and more
War Games
In 1946, John Hersey revealed the Hiroshima cover-up to the world. A new book tells how he got the scoop
Warm Ways
Songs built to withstand the heat, from Fleetwood Mac, Delaney & Bonnie, Etta James, the Detroit Cobras, and more
Back to the Future
Alvin and Heidi Toffler’s book Future Shock, published a half-century ago, got a lot right about our current times
In Search of Lost Pianos
A journey to Siberia reveals the life of a 19th-century Russian princess who, in extreme isolation, found solace in music
