From the Rosicrucian Order's Rose+Croix Journal, an essay on The Sistine Chapel: A Study in Celestial Cartography; and Full Circle: West Meets East. The lion in winter: He partied with Isherwood, slept with Kerouac, dined with Auden, was related to the Kennedys, travelled with Tennessee Williams and befriended Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber ... And through it all Gore Vidal's ferocious wit ensured his standing as one of the greats of American letters. But now, at 81, a frailty is giving his fury an unexpected vulnerability. The life of Surrealism's most shameless self-promoter is examined in two new books, Salvador Dali: An Illustrated Life and Dali and Film. Sheila Take a Bow: Lynn Harris sings the praises of chick lit's patient zero. A review of Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson.
The Writing Life: Novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie remembers the desks — including her father's — where she learned to write. From The New Yorker, a review of The Diana Chronicles by Tina Brown (and more from The Times). Going to court over fiction by a fictitious writer: Laura Albert, who wrote novels under the fictive alter ego JT Leroy, is being sued by a film production company. Asset-minded professors: A review of Capital Ideas Evolving by Peter L. Bernstein. What kind of women’s magazine skips out on dieting, forgets ab workouts, and leaves makeup by the side of the road? Jane does. A review of Nature's Engraver: A Life of Thomas Bewick by Jenny Uglow.
Summing Up Literature: Statistical analyses of literary texts provide new insights about novels. On Las Vegas stages, daring feats of engineering steal the show. A review of Revolt in the Boardroom: The New Rules of Power in Corporate America by Alan Murray. A review of Rethinking Thin: The New Science of Weight Loss — and the Myths and Realities of Dieting by Gina Kolata. A review of Miniature Books: 4,000 Years of Tiny Treasures by Anne C. Bromer and Julian I. Edison. Scammer to the stars: A review of You Will Make Money In Your Sleep: The Story of Dana Giacchetto, Financial Adviser to the Stars by Emily White. A review of Shakespeare & Co.: Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Dekker, Ben Jonson, Thomas Middleton, John Fletcher and Other Players in his Story by Stanley Wells.
Byron was asked by his publisher to lengthen his classic poem Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage and remove some of its “religious feeling” to make it sell better, according to a treasure trove of letters that is to be published for the first time. A review of A History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage (and more). A review of Tommy's Honor: The Story of Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris, Golf's Founding Father and Son by Kevin Cook. Action. Adventure. Excitement. Romance. Inspiration. All to be found in the pages of thrillers penned by master storytellers. Which are the must-reads? Is Rose Tremain a slow reader? No, she's the Porsche 911 of readers. Richard Stern remembers his late friend Saul Bellow and the talented writer.
Matthew Kneale speaks several languages, is advised by experts and writes in voices diverse and realistic. But, he tells Katy Guest, writing a novel is just like preparing a good meal. A review of One Perfect Day: The Selling of the American Wedding by Rebecca Mead. A review of The Last Mrs. Astor: A New York Story by Frances Kiernan. A review of Taxi! A Social History of the New York City Cabdriver by Graham Russell Gao Hodges. Form Comment, a conversation on shalom with Chris Anderson, under-appreciated artist. Wedding Gifts: The perplexing and sometimes overwhelming experience of getting free stuff. A review of Dishwasher: One Man's Quest to Wash Dishes in all 50 States by Pete Jordan. A review of Horses: History, Myth, Art by Catherine Johns.
