Soundings from The New York Review

Pandemic Journal

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 15:50:00 -0400

In this series, New York Review contributors document the coronavirus outbreak around the world. Featuring readings by Eduardo Halfon in Paris, Anastasia Edel in Oakland, Miguel-Anxo Murado in Madrid, Ruth Margalit in Tel Aviv, Mark Gevisser in Cape Town, Elisa Gabbert in Denver, Simon Callow in London, Lauren Groff in Gainesville, Anna Badkhen in Lalibela, and Sylvia Poggioli in Rome.

President Obama and Marilynne Robinson: A Conversation—II

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 12:00:00 -0400

In the second part of this exclusive conversation, President Obama and writer Marilynne Robinson discuss literature, politics, competition, American restlessness, teaching, and citizenship. The conversation was recorded on September 14, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa.

President Obama and Marilynne Robinson: A Conversation

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 12 Oct 2015 12:00:00 -0400

In this exclusive conversation, President Obama and author Marilynne Robinson discuss topics ranging from the problems of American democracy and the responsibilities of citizenship to the challenges of Christianity and their shared sense of the values and virtues of small-town America. The conversation was recorded on September 14, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa. This is the first part of their conversation; the second part will appear on October 26.

Civil Rights & Policing

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 05:30:00 -0400

A panel discussion with Laurie Robinson, co-chair of the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, critic and novelist Darryl Pinckney, and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. The panelists reflect on issues of race and bias in law enforcement and whether the recommendations of the White House Task Force, if implemented, can practically address and dismantle sources of conflict, deepening racial divisions, and high rates of incarceration in the US. Recorded on September 20, 2015 at the Brooklyn Book Festival.

Literary Journalism: A Discussion

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 03 May 2013 16:46:10 -0400

Ian Buruma, Joseph Lelyveld, Zoë Heller, Alma Guillermoprieto, and Andrew Delbanco discuss the future of literary journalism. This podcast was recorded on April 3, 2013 at the New York Public Library.

Michael Chabon on the Mysteries of Pittsburgh

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:08:43 -0400

Michael Chabon reads from his piece about writing his first novel, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. Chabon spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

Daniel Mendelsohn on September 11 at the Movies

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:04:02 -0400

Daniel Mendelsohn reads from his 2006 piece, "September 11 at the Movies," a review of United 93 by Paul Greengrass and World Trade Center by Oliver Stone. Mendelsohn spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

Mark Danner on Reporting from the Campaign Trail

The New York Review of Books — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:10:38 -0400

Mark Danner discusses his time as an editorial assistant at The New York Review and as a contributor from the campaign trail. Danner spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

Darryl Pinckney on James Baldwin

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:04:24 -0400

Darryl Pickney discusses his lifelong engagement with the writing of James Baldwin. Pinckney spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

Mary Beard on Reading the Classics

The New York Review of Books — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 17:47:12 -0400

Mary Beard discusses The New York Review’s coverage of the classics throughout its history. Beard spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

John Banville on Hubert Butler

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:15:23 -0500

John Banville discusses his 1997 review "The European Irishman," on the work of Hubert Butler. Banville spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

Joan Didion on the Central Park Jogger

The New York Review of Books — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:45:00 -0500

Joan Didion reads from her 1991 essay "New York: Sentimental Journeys" about the Central Park jogger case. Didion spoke on February 5, 2013 at Town Hall in New York City, in a celebration of The New York Review's 50th anniversary.

Steve Coll on the Killing of Osama bin Laden

The New York Review of Books — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 12:34:51 -0400

Steve Coll addresses the political implications of the mission to kill Osama bin Laden and how the author of No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama bin Laden sidestepped legal issues to publish his book.

Henri Cole Reads Selected Poems

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:15:00 -0400

Henri Cole reads from his recent book of poems, Touch (2011), and talks about his search for what he calls the "essentialness of emotion."

Jonathan Freedland on the Royal Wedding

The New York Review of Books — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:00:00 -0400

Jonathan Freedland talks with Emily Greenhouse about gilded-coach celebrity in an era of austerity, the hereditary principle, and why all bets are off when it comes to Wills and Kate.

Andrew Delbanco on Mark Twain

The New York Review of Books — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 18:03:36 -0400

Andrew Delbanco talks with Andrew Martin about the first volume of Mark Twain’s unabridged Autobiography and the distinctive joys and challenges of reading Twain in the twenty-first century.

Geoffrey O'Brien on Duke Ellington

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:45:10 -0500

Geoffrey O'Brien talks with Chris Carroll about Duke Ellington's mid-career crisis and stunning comeback, revisiting his often-overlooked albums of the 1960s and 1970s.

Robert Gottlieb on Charles Dickens

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 11:45:00 -0400

Robert Gottlieb speaks to Andrew Martin about Charles Dickens's troubled life, his best and worst novels, and how to read without editing.

Derek Walcott, Two Poems

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:00:41 -0400

Poet Derek Walcott recites "Fare Well" by Walter de la Mare, and reads "The Hulls of White Yachts," from his latest collection White Egrets.

Charles Rosen Plays Chopin

The New York Review of Books — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:15:09 -0400

Charles Rosen plays the music of Frédéric Chopin and talks to Chris Carroll about the composer's surprising radicalism and the critical controversy surrounding his work, the mysterious spianato style, and whether there is a right way to play Chopin's music.

Dan Chiasson on Lydia Davis

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 19 May 2010 12:15:08 -0400

Dan Chiasson reads from The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis, which he reviewed in the April 29, 2010 issue of The New York Review, and talks to Gabriel Winslow-Yost about accidental greatness, lonely translators, and reading at stoplights.

Deborah Eisenberg on Skylark

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Deborah Eisenberg reads from Skylark, a Hungarian novel recently republished by NYRB Classics, and talks with Sasha Weiss about why it's one of the most perfect novels she's encountered.

Cathleen Schine on Gail Collins

The New York Review of Books — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Cathleen Schine speaks with Sasha Weiss about Gail Collins's book When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present, and about the victories and failures of the women's movement.

Charles Wright Reads Selected Sestets and Other Poems

The New York Review of Books — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Charles Wright reads from his recent collection, Sestets, and talks to Sasha Weiss about the importance of landscape in his work, his writing process, and how he came to experiment with the six-line form.

Andrew O'Hagan on Samuel Johnson

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Andrew O'Hagan talks to Sasha Weiss about Samuel Johnson's various and contradictory character, how his Rambler essays shaped our notions of literary talent and professional authorship, and why, in his tercentenary year, Johnson remains essential reading.

Joost Hiltermann on Iraq on the Edge

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Joost Hiltermann speaks with Nathan Thrall about the political crisis facing Iraq as it prepares for parliamentary elections in 2010 and the final withdrawal of all American troops by the end of the following year.

Chris Jordan on Midway Atoll and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Photographer and activist Chris Jordan speaks with Eve Bowen about his recent photographs, taken at one of the world's most remote marine wildlife sanctuaries, of albatross chicks killed by plastic waste that their parents have mistaken for food.

Jerome Groopman on the Changing Medical Profession

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Jerome Groopman speaks with Andrew Martin about how regulation of shift length, the struggle to control costs, and the rise of "evidence-based" medicine have changed how doctors learn and practice.

James Bamford on the National Security Agency

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

James Bamford talks to Nathan Thrall about the politics behind the Bush administration's evasion of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the technology and scope of the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program.

Frederick Seidel Reads Selected Poems

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Frederick Seidel reads selections from the work he has published in the Review, as well as poems from his recent collection, Poems 1959-2009. For more on Seidel's work, read Dan Chiasson's review of that volume, or Charles Simic's blog post about the challenges Seidel's work poses for critics and readers.

Norman Manea on Herta Müller

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Norman Manea speaks with Hugh Eakin about Romanian-born German writer Herta Müller, the 2009 Nobel laureate in literature, and what her life and work reveal about the status of ethnic minorities in her native country. A transcription of highlights of the conversation is available at blogs.nybooks.com.

Lawrence Weschler on David Hockney

The New York Review of Books — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Lawrence Weschler—whose audio slide show about David Hockney's iPhone drawings can be seen here—talks about Hockney's longtime interest in new technology and his recent paintings, which will be on view at PaceWildenstein this fall.

David Cole on the Lawyers Who Authorized Torture

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

David Cole talks to Hugh Eakin about the Bush Administration lawyers who—as recently as 2007—approved illegal CIA interrogations, and why we need a full investigation of their actions.

Joyce Carol Oates on Shirley Jackson

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Joyce Carol Oates talks to Sasha Weiss about the writer Shirley Jackson—her place in the writing of the 1950s, the renewal of interest in her work, and how she created her tidy, wicked stories in the midst of her chaotic life.

Garry Wills on the Death of Conservatism

The New York Review of Books — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Garry Wills speaks with Hugh Eakin about the end of the age of Buckley, the rise of right-wing radicalism, and the crisis facing the American conservative movement.

James M. McPherson on Abraham Lincoln

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Historian James M. McPherson talks to Charles Petersen about the career, worldwide impact, and enduring political legacy of Abraham Lincoln.

Fintan O'Toole on Flann O'Brien

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Sasha Weiss speaks with Fintan O'Toole, columnist for the Irish Times, about the genius and misfortune of the great Irish novelist Flann O'Brien.

Freeman Dyson on Amateur Scientists and the New Age of Wonder

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Freeman Dyson talks to Charles Petersen about Richard Holmes's book The Age of Wonder, his own education in chemistry and poetry, and how amateur biotechnology might help solve the problem of global warming.

J.M. Coetzee Reads From Summertime

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

J.M. Coetzee, the novelist and 2003 Nobel laureate, reads from his new novel, Summertime, forthcoming from Viking in December. Excerpts from the novel appeared in our July 16 and August 13 issues.

Michael Massing on Reinventing the News

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Michael Massing talks to Charles Petersen about the rise of blogs and the ascent of online journalism.

Adam Hochschild in Eastern Congo

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Adam Hochschild talks to Hugh Eakin about the epidemic of violence against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ronald Dworkin on Sotomayor and the Roberts Court

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Ronald Dworkin talks to Hugh Eakin about Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings, the growing conservatism of the Roberts Court, and the myth that judges can decide cases simply by fidelity to the law.

Timothy Snyder on the Holocaust

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Timothy Snyder talks to Sasha Weiss about how we can best understand the Holocaust and the mass killings under Stalin as a particularly Eastern European phenomenon.

Roger Cohen in Tehran

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Roger Cohen speaks to Hugh Eakin about the protests that followed Iran's June 12 election, the crackdown, and the consequences for the future of the Iranian regime.

Claire Messud Reads "Land Divers"

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Novelist and critic Claire Messud, author most recently of the novel The Emperor's Children, reads her new story "Land Divers," from the Review's Summer Fiction issue.

Michael Tomasky on Obama's Strategy

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Michael Tomasky speaks with Hugh Eakin about public perception of the President and his policies, the thinking behind the administration's ceding of authority to Congress, and the sheer pace of Obama's Washington.

David Cole on Same-Sex Marriage

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

David Cole talks to Michael Shae about the history of the legal battle over same-sex marriage, the changing demographics that favor nationwide support, and the legal and political tactics advocates and activists might use to ensure a just future for the institution.

Nicholas Kristof on Darfur

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Nicholas Kristof speaks with Sasha Weiss about his experiences reporting in Darfur, the International Criminal Court's indictment of Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir on counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and what the Obama administration can do to prevent further escalation of the conflict.

Ahmed Rashid on Pakistan in Crisis

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Ahmed Rashid speaks with Hugh Eakin about the continuing conflict between the Pakistani government and the Taliban, the humanitarian crisis in Swat, and the violence that has spread from the border with Afghanistan to within sixty miles of the capital, Islamabad.

Helen Epstein on Prison Reform

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Helen Epstein talks with Eve Bowen about lawyer Sunny Schwartz's work in the San Francisco county jail system, and her program's potential for transforming the treatment of prisoners nationwide.

Christopher Ricks on John Keats

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Christopher Ricks speaks with Giles Harvey about Posthumous Keats, Stanley Plumly's recent biography of John Keats, and about the poet's death and the idealized image that emerged during his "immediate afterlife.

Andrew Delbanco on the Universities in Trouble

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Andrew Delbanco, director of American Studies at Columbia University, speaks with Michael Shae about the financial crisis facing American higher education.

David Hare Performs Wall

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Playwright David Hare reads his monologue Wall, an exploration of the impact—on both Israelis and Palestinians—of the barrier built to divide Israel from the West Bank.

Tim Parks on Pinocchio

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Novelist Tim Parks speaks with Andrew Palmer about Geoffrey Brock's new English translation of Carlo Collodi's children's classic Pinocchio, and the book's origins in the political and cultural tumult of 1880s Italy.

Robert M. Solow on the Economic Crisis

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Economist and Nobel laureate Robert M. Solow speaks with Hugh Eakin about the causes of the current crisis, the importance of credit in the functioning of the world financial system, and how new regulation might prevent future disasters.

Orlando Figes on the Politics of Russian History

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Historian Orlando Figes speaks with Sasha Weiss about his latest book, The Whisperers: Private Life in Stalin's Russia; the recent prosecutor's office raid on the Memorial Society, a human rights organization working to preserve memories and documentary evidence of Stalin's repression; and the dangers posed by resurgent Stalinism to the accurate telling of Russian history.

Pico Iyer on the Dalai Lama

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Drawing on his long personal relationship with the Dalai Lama, Pico Iyer speaks with Hugh Eakin about the Tibetan leader's stark new view of the Chinese regime and the future of Tibet.

John Ashbery Reads Selected Poems

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

John Ashbery reads sixteen of his own selections from among the more than forty poems he has published in the Review since the 1970s, and comments on a few of his most obscure film and literary references. © 2009 John Ashbery. All rights to this recorded material belong to the author. Used with gracious permission of John Ashbery.

Dan Chiasson on John Ashbery

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Poet and critic Dan Chiasson speaks with Giles Harvey about John Ashbery's life and work, and reflects on the demanding pleasures of reading Ashbery's poetry.

Jonathan Raban on Wendy and Lucy

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Jonathan Raban speaks with Charles Petersen about Kelly Reichardt's film Wendy and Lucy and the stories of Jon Raymond, and about how these works illuminate—and are illuminated by—the socioeconomic realities of the Pacific Northwest.

Mark Danner on the ICRC Report on US Torture

The New York Review of Books — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Mark Danner talks to Hugh Eakin about the confidential International Committee of the Red Cross report on the CIA's secret prisons and reads excerpts from detainee Abu Zubaydah's firsthand account of torture.

Anita Desai on Azar Nafisi

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Novelist Anita Desai speaks with Eve Bowen about Things I've Been Silent About, Iranian expatriate Azar Nafisi's new memoir.

Lorrie Moore on Donald Barthelme

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Lorrie Moore speaks with Andrew Palmer about Hiding Man, Tracy Daugherty's new biography of Donald Barthelme.

J. Michael Lennon on Norman Mailer’s Letters

The New York Review of Books — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

J. Michael Lennon, who is at work on an authorized biography of Norman Mailer, speaks with Sasha Weiss about Mailer's letters and what they reveal about his ambitions, his relationships with other writers, and his enduring obsessions.

Hilton Als on Gus Van Sant’s Milk

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Critic Hilton Als speaks with Michael Shae about Van Sant's film in light of Harvey Milk's experiences as a gay man in the 1950s and 1960s, and about Milk's personal and political legacy.

Tim Flannery on The Superorganism

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Tim Flannery speaks with Eve Bowen about E. O. Wilson and Bert Hölldobler's The Superorganism, a new book on insect societies, and its implications for understanding humanity.

Alison Lurie on John Updike

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Alison Lurie speaks with Giles Harvey about John Updike's life, his work, and his place in American literary history.

Robert Malley on Gaza

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Robert Malley speaks with Hugh Eakin about the war in Gaza, its political implications for the region, and the steps the Obama administration might take towards achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Darryl Pinckney and Mark Danner on Obama’s Inauguration

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Frequent Review contributors Darryl Pinckney and Mark Danner speak with Sasha Weiss about Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony, his first few days in office, and the promise of his presidency.

William Dalrymple on Pakistan

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

William Dalrymple speaks with Sasha Weiss about the spread of radical Islam in Central and South Asia since September 11, 2001, and its implications for Pakistan's future.

Barry Goldensohn Reads Selected Poems

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Poet Barry Goldensohn reads "The Hundred Yard Dash Man," "Back Roads," and "Driving Westward to San Diego," and speaks with Jana Prikryl about his life and work.

Perry Link on China’s Charter 08

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Perry Link, professor of East Asian studies at Princeton University, speaks with Hugh Eakin about the Chinese state's reaction to Charter 08, a document calling for increased human rights and democracy signed by thousands of Chinese citizens since its release in early December.

Elizabeth Drew on the President-Elect

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Veteran Washington observer and regular Review contributor Elizabeth Drew talks to Hugh Eakin about Obama's transition strategy, his cabinet picks, and the new style of governance.

Sue Halpern on Reportage from Iraq and Afghanistan

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Frequent Review contributor Sue Halpern speaks with Eve Bowen about several recent films and books that reveal the realities of the war on terror, about which most Americans remain ignorant.

William Easterly on Foreign Aid Militarization

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Economist William Easterly speaks with Hugh Eakin about the recent militarization of Western foreign aid policy, the dangers of this new "aid imperialism," and the role economists have played in its development.

Daniel Mendelsohn on Constantine Cavafy

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Frequent Review contributor Daniel Mendelsohn speaks with Sasha Weiss about the "poet-historian" Constantine Cavafy. Mendelsohn's new translation of Cavafy's Collected Poems will be published in the spring of 2009, along with an accompanying volume of thirty unfinished poems that have never before been translated into English.

What Happens Now? A Conversation on the 2008 Election

The New York Review of Books — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

On November 10, in a conversation moderated by Robert Silvers, Andrew Delbanco, Joan Didion, Jeff Madrick, Darryl Pinckney, Michael Tomasky, and Garry Wills discussed the implications of Barack Obama's election and the likely direction of his administration. Hosted by the New York Public Library's Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers and copresented with LIVE from the NYPL, the event celebrated the 45th anniversary of the Review.

Martin Filler on Frank Lloyd Wright

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Longtime Review contributor Martin Filler talks to Deirdre Foley-Mendelssohn about Frank Lloyd Wright's uniquely American architecture.

Helen Vendler on Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:26:05 -0500

Poetry critic and frequent Review contributor Helen Vendler speaks with Sasha Weiss about the correspondence of Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell, and reads some of the poems that were inspired by the poets' lifelong friendship.

The Election Issues Tour: San Francisco

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In a series of panels cosponsored by the Review and Guardian America, contributors and editors for both publications discuss the issues shaping the 2008 election campaigns and the challenges and opportunities that will face the new administration: The Commonwealth Club, San Francisco, on October 27, 2008

The Election Issues Tour: Washington, DC

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In a series of panels cosponsored by the Review and Guardian America, contributors and editors for both publications discuss the issues shaping the 2008 election campaigns and the challenges and opportunities that will face the new administration: Politics & Prose Bookstore, Washington, DC, on October 16, 2008

The Election Issues Tour: Cambridge, Massachusetts

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In a series of panels cosponsored by the Review and Guardian America, contributors and editors for both publications discuss the issues shaping the 2008 election campaigns and the challenges and opportunities that will face the new administration: Hosted by the Harvard Book Store, and held at the Brattle Theatre, Cambridge, Massachusetts, October 15, 2008.

Michael Massing in Ohio

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:31:05 -0400

Frequent Review contributor Michael Massing uncovers a surprising trend in Ohio voters' preferences in the final weeks of the presidential campaign.

Charles Simic Reads Selected Poems

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:10:53 -0400

Former poet laureate Charles Simic, a longtime Review contributor, reads work from his two most recent collections, Sixty Poems and That Little Something.

Jeff Madrick on the Economic Crisis

The New York Review of Books — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:07:55 -0400

Hugh Eakin speaks with economics writer and frequent Review contributor Jeff Madrick about the US policies that led to the international financial crisis, and about the problems that still lie ahead.

Reading in a World of Images

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:02:07 -0400

As part of the New York Public Library's "Live from the NYPL" series, Daniel Mendelsohn, Pico Iyer, and James Wood met on September 17 to discuss the place of criticism in a world increasingly dominated by film, television, and new media forms.

Reading Burma

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:30:47 -0400

On September 23, at Cooper Union's Great Hall, PEN American Center, the Open Society Institute's Burma Project, and the Review cosponsored an evening of readings and conversations, hosted by Salman Rushdie. The event, benefiting the International Burmese Monks Organization, commemorated the 2007 protests against Burma's junta, and called attention to the continuing efforts to assist survivors of Cyclone Nargis.

The Consequences to Come

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:02:24 -0400

Review contributors Darryl Pinckney, Ronald Dworkin, Joan Didion, and Mark Danner assess the 2008 presidential contest and the issues that will define the next administration. Introduced by Robert Silvers, editor of the Review. From a panel discussion at the Brooklyn Book Festival, September 14, 2008.

Samantha Power on National Security and the Election

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:30:28 -0400

Samantha Power talks to Hugh Eakin about the foreign policy implications of the 2008 Presidential contest.

Oliver Sacks on Mania, Memoir, and Music

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:25:57 -0400

Oliver Sacks speaks with Eve Bowen about Michael Greenberg's new memoir, the work of Kay Redfield Jamison, and music and madness in Musicophilia.

Edward Mendelson on Frank O’Hara

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:12:46 -0400

Edward Mendelson talks with Sasha Weiss about Frank O'Hara the moralist.

Joseph Lelyveld at the 2008 Republican National Convention, Part II

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:49:36 -0400

Palin's enthusiasm for oil, McCain's silence on Iraq, and the character issues that have energized the Republican base.

Michael Chabon at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Part II

The New York Review of Books — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:06:25 -0400

Obama's stadium performance, Bill Clinton's comeback, and the nomination of Sarah Palin.

Joseph Lelyveld at the 2008 Republican National Convention, Part I

The New York Review of Books — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:36:09 -0400

The Palin nomination and what the new Republican platform means for McCain.

Michael Chabon at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Part I

The New York Review of Books — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:59:16 -0400

Hillary Clinton, the new face of the Democratic party, and the mood in Denver.

Vanessa Redgrave and David Hare

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:16:37 -0400

On August 10, as part of the 2008 Salzburg Global Seminar, The New York Review of Books cosponsored a panel discussion on art and politics featuring actor Vanessa Redgrave and playwright David Hare, who directed Redgrave in Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking at this year's Salzburg Festival. The conversation was moderated by Salzburg senior vice president and chief program officer Edward Mortimer. The panel was introduced by Review editor Robert Silvers.

Vanessa Redgrave and David Hare Audience Question and Answer Session

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Following their panel discussion on art and politics at the 2008 Salzburg Global Seminar, Vanessa Redgrave and playwright David Hare, (who directed Redgrave in Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking) answered audience questions.

Michael Massing on Iraq

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:12:05 -0400

Hugh Eakin speaks with Michael Massing about Iraq's precarious future.

Mary Beard on Jokes

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:17:03 -0400

Classicist Mary Beard in conversation with Sasha Weiss about what made the Romans laugh.

Edmund White on Marguerite Duras

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:45:17 -0400

Sasha Weiss speaks with Edmund White about Duras's Paris.

Robert Barnett on China, Tibet, and the Olympics

The New York Review of Books — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Tibetologist Robert Barnett discusses the changing face of Tibet with Hugh Eakin