The Lady Gangster of New York
Vivian Gordon made a name for herself as the sexual extortionist of Jazz Age New York. Then she disappeared
The Tortured-Writers Department
Sitting in the cafés frequented by Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway to write a book about Paris sounds like a dream—until it’s time to put pen to paper
Directors’ Cuts
A new book zooms in on filmmakers’ on-set wardrobes, from Federico Fellini’s fedora on Juliet of the Spirits to John Ford’s serape on The Searchers and Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette uniform
Laughter in the Dark
In his new memoir, comedian Paul Scheer takes on his childhood abuse with humor and one-liners
Hollywood’s Hidden Genius
Elaine May was Mike Nichols’s comedic other half, and directed some of the last century’s quirkiest movies, from The Heartbreak Kid to Ishtar. Then she all but disappeared
Editor’s Picks
This week, don’t miss a novel set during the 1925 Scopes trial, a history of medieval magic, and a portrait of a World War II hero
Dreaming About Joni
Two Joni Mitchell biographers discuss their shared muse
Been There, Dunne That
Griffin Dunne reflects on his sister’s horrific murder, the making of Scorsese’s After Hours, his friendship with Carrie Fisher, and a colorful life in New York and Hollywood
“Stan Mack’s Real Life Funnies,” Revisited
New York’s favorite, “100% overheard” comic strip, which ran from the mid-70s to the mid-90s in The Village Voice, is brought back to life in a new book
The Book Lover’s Guide to Dublin
With the Bloomsday and Dalkey literary festivals kicking off, this is the peak week to get lit in the Irish capital
Editor’s Picks
This week, don’t miss a World War II thriller, a book on the making of Double Indemnity, a look at Cold War Moscow, and an overlooked Mark Twain novel
Blondie Moment
In an excerpt from his new memoir, Chris Stein, the Blondie co-founder and guitarist, recalls the heroin-and-pot-fueled chaos of life on tour in the early 80s
Man Ray’s Halo Effect
A new book surveys the life and work of the prolific 20th-century artist who revolutionized photography and pioneered the Surrealist movement
Valley of the Books
Located inside a family’s Brooklyn home, High Valley Books offers the best collection of rare and vintage print media in the city
All Jazzed Up
How three great jazz musicians—Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington—created their own lexicons
Editor’s Picks
This week, don’t miss a beloved historian’s memoir; a look at early American life; and an author’s ode to his cat
