In the ancient hot mess known as Judea, a young queen had to navigate a self-destructive royal dynasty and one of history’s worst husbands.
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Posted inEditor's Pick
The Real Origins of Birthright Citizenship
Scholar Martha S. Jones offers a deep dive on pre- and post-Civil War origins of the birthright citizenship provision of the US Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment.
Posted inBooks, Culture, Essays & Criticism, Feature, Nonfiction, Story, Unapologetic Women
In Jo’s Image
Jeanna Kadlec considers the impact of Little Women’s matriarchy — and its heroine — on the formation of her own queer identity.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books, Highlight, Quotes, Writing
Racism in Romance, or Why Is the Duke Always White
White people: how many people still think “Fabio!” when they hear “romance novel,” raise your hands. Thought so.
Posted inFeature, Story
The Reluctant Propagandist
Massood Sanjer, Afghanistan’s most famous radio host, had an unlikely start to his career as a beacon of free speech. Under the Taliban rule, his voice used to carry Taliban propaganda all over the world.
Posted inNonfiction
The Ugly History of Beautiful Things: Lockets
Lockets simultaneously display and hide. But does squirreling our love and grief away in a piece of jewelry keep the memories and emotions present for us, or minimize them?
Posted inBooks, History, Nonfiction, Story, Writing
Stalin’s Scheherazade
An opportunistic literary caper became a lifelong con — with no possibility of escape.
Posted inBooks, Commentary
This Month In Books: ‘How Thick Was the Cane?’ and Other Questions About Things
This month’s books newsletter is all about things. As in stuff, objects. Because, as Heike Geissler says, “It’s because of all the things that are here… that you’re here in the first place.”
Posted inNonfiction
Longreads Best of 2021: All of Our No. 1 Story Picks
Here’s every story that was chosen as No. 1 in our weekly Top 5 email.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books, Commentary, Reading List
On, In, or Near the Sea: A Book List
Summer’s almost over. Alison Fields curated a list of beach-based books to make you feel like you’re still breathing in that sweet sea air.
