In the Wings
After funding was cut for the Federal Theatre Project, hundreds of scripts, props, and costumes went missing. Three decades later, two professors and a government worker saved them
The Bad Habits of Eve Babitz
The razor-sharp essayist and chess partner of Marcel Duchamp, who dated Jim Morrison, Harrison Ford, and Steve Martin, relentlessly explored the power of beauty
Grand Slam
As the U.S. Open approaches, a new book collects more than 150 objects of tennis memorabilia, with text by Gustavo Fernández, Rafael Nadal, and Stan Smith
Happily Ever After
In the 1500s, Thomas Cranmer, a Catholic priest infatuated with marriage, translated Roman Catholic wedding vows into English. His tweaks shaped the modern idea of marriage
Stars at Work
A new book celebrates the golden age of American moviemaking, as seen in the pages of Life magazine
The Shots Heard Around the World
Fifty years after the Kent State shooting, an Ohio Army National Guardsman finally reveals why they shot at unarmed college protesters
Editor’s Picks
This week, don’t miss the story of how Victorians discovered dinosaur bones; a chronicle of conservative decay; and a collection of resignation letters from Brown University trustees
A Gentleman’s Touch
Thanks to his impeccable manners, Arthur Barry ingratiated himself with Jazz Age millionaires—then stole their jewels
Venice in Bloom
A new book of photographs by Marco Valmarana takes readers inside the Floating City’s secret gardens
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
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
The Godmother of the French New Wave
The first major biography of Agnès Varda traces her path from occasional movie watcher to pioneering director
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
Devil’s Bargain
A 2004 visit with the future Nobel laureate Alice Munro left me with a slightly uneasy feeling. Now I know why
