Spanning fiction and essays, Oe’s work tackled a wide range of subjects from militarism and nuclear disarmament to innocence and trauma, and he became an outspoken champion for the voiceless in the face of what he regarded as his country’s failures. Regarded by some in Japan as distinctly western, Oe’s style was often likened to William Faulkner; in his own words, in his writing he would “start from my personal matters and then link it up with society, the state and the world” Read more
How to Responsibly Dispose of Old Books
Wondering what to do with old books? Do you want to dispose of old books without just tossing them in the trash? Read on for 30+ ideas about how to dispose of old books without sending them to the landfill. Read more
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Winners of the 2023 Bancroft Prize Announced
The award, one of the most prestigious in the field of American history, honors “scope, significance, depth of research and richness of interpretation.” Read more
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The Essential Patricia Highsmith
Known for her psychopathic antiheroes and novels such as “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “The Price of Salt,” Highsmith was a tangle of contradictions. Read more
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Building a New Canon of Black Literature
If the Harlem Renaissance is commonly understood as a period during which Black creatives were in vogue, then we’re in the midst of a new renaissance today, nearly a century later — not just of recent art but of the archive. Read more
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Osamu Dazai, With Help From TikTok, Keeps Finding New Fans
The enduring appeal of a midcentury Japanese novelist who wrote of alienation and suicide. Read more
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Lucky Hank, Starring Bob Odenkirk, Premieres March 19th
An English department chairman at an underfunded college, Professor Hank Devereaux toes the line between midlife crisis and full-blown meltdown, navigating the offbeat chaos in his personal and professional life. Watch trailer
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Winners of PEN America Literary Awards Announced
Since 1963, the PEN America Literary Awards Program has honored outstanding voices in fiction, poetry, science writing, essays, biography, children’s literature, translation, drama, and more. With the help of our generous partners and supporters, this year PEN America conferred over 20 distinct juried awards, grants, and prizes, awarding more than $350,000 to more than 40 writers and translators. Read more
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Kazuo Ishiguro Gets Oscar Nomination for ‘Living’
LIVING is the story of an ordinary man, reduced by years of oppressive office routine to a shadow existence, who at the eleventh hour makes a supreme effort to turn his dull life into something wonderful. Watch trailer
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50 Years on, ‘Wisconsin Death Trip’ Still Haunts and Inspires
Michael Lesy’s book of historical photographs and found text offers a singular portrait of American life. Read more
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