George du Maurier’s Trilby, published in 1894, became one of the most popular novels of its time. The story introduced us to a young heroine, Trilby, and a memorable villain, Svengali, whose names have since taken on lives of their own.
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Judging Books By Their Covers
Jason Diamond analyzes his obsession with Vintage Contemporaries paperbacks from the 80s.
My Journey to the Heart of the FOIA Request
Fifty years ago, the Freedom of Information Act gave the public access to government secrets — all you had to do was ask. How a simple request became a bureaucratic nightmare.
A Witness to Other People’s Lives, Not Living My Own
Unhappiness Cloak: An excerpt from “Weird in a World That’s Not,” by Jennifer Romolini.
The 2017 National Magazine Award Winners: A Reading List
Congrats to this year’s winners!
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Our top stories of the week, as chosen by the editors at Longreads.
Longreads Best of 2016: Crime Reporting
We asked a few writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year in various categories. Here, the best in crime reporting.
Bootlegging Jane’s Addiction
Aaron Gilbreath considers the impact a live Jane’s Addiction recording has had on him, and the effect heroin had on the band’s — and his own — creativity.
Norma McCorvey Versus Jane Roe
In 1970, a homeless woman pregnant with her third child met with two lawyers at a pizzeria in Dallas. Did it matter, in the end, who Jane Roe really was?
Language Acquisition
Diana Spechler recalls fleeing her life in New York City for a new one with a painter in his village in central Mexico.

