Jonathan Becker, In Focus
From garden strolls with Brassaï to nights out with Andy Warhol, a new book by the American photographer documents intimate moments with the 20th century’s high society
An Afternoon with Thomas Mallon
The author and editor of Gore Vidal discusses the influence of Mary McCarthy, his latest book, and the upcoming TV adaptation of his 2007 novel, Fellow Travelers
Going Viral
Ben Smith, the former BuzzFeed editor and New York Times columnist, discusses Fox’s firing of Tucker Carlson, the Gawker–Hulk Hogan scandal, and his new book on the age of disinformation, Traffic
The “Oh Boy” Network
When she signed on as squash director at the prestigious and apparently idyllic Westchester Country Club, Natalie Grainger had no clue it was a breeding ground for sexual harassment
In the Heart of Combat
Bernard-Henri Lévy is out with the sequel to Why Ukraine?, bringing his viewers to the front lines during a turning point in the war
Staff Picks
Don’t miss profiles of 31 little-known New Yorkers; the story of how Sesame Street was adapted for Russian TV; and a cookbook from the Via Carota chefs
The Hard-Crusted Softy in Winter
Ten years after Gore Vidal’s death, the one biographer to remain friendly with the prickly master reveals poignant details of his final years
Diary of a Flack Catcher
While male billionaires used Epstein as their pimp, the legendary publicist Peggy Siegal was busy channeling her inner party reporter, sending Epstein unsolicited dispatches from starry gatherings she wasn’t invited to
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
A Film Festival About Writers
The Brooklyn Public Library’s LitFilm festival explores the work of Maya Angelou, Leonard Cohen, and others, through the lens of film
Editor’s Picks
This week, don’t miss a history of crime as told through 100 objects, a look at Greta Garbo’s life off-screen, and a vivid sketch of daily life during the Roman Empire’s golden age
Travel
Luxury on Thin Ice
A champagne-fueled journey to the North Pole has confirmed that it’s melting. Was the glamorous voyage on Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot enough to soften the blow?
The Dark Side of Paul McCartney
He shortchanged his band and wrote some truly awful songs, but Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles life succeeded in one respect—he carved out a carefree existence with his family
