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Borges and $: The Parable of the Literary Master and the Coin
Thirty years ago, the world lost a great literary mind—the Argentine writer and poet Jorge Luis Borges. Today, Elizabeth Hyde Stevens revisits the financial conditions that produced this life of pure literature, finding unexpected hope in the darkest period of Borges’ forgotten past.
10 Outstanding Short Stories to Read in 2016
Below is a guest post from Mumbai-based writer-filmmaker—and longtime #longreads contributor—Pravesh Bhardwaj (@AuteurPravesh).
The Sense of an Endling
Scientists closely monitor the last member of a species. Is there space in a creature’s DNA to consider the prospect of no tomorrow?
The Itch and the Touch
Families are complicated. Caring for Grandpa John was even more so.
Building In the Shadow of Our Own Destruction
Those who would build enormous structures—skyscrapers, bridges, border walls—should do so with an eye toward their eventual ruin.
Longreads Best of 2016: Political Analysis
We asked a few writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year in various categories. Here, the best in political analysis.
The Controversy Surrounding Science Fiction’s Most Prestigious Award
At Wired, Amy Wallace reports on the controversy at the Hugo Awards, which has been plagued by accusations by a faction of mostly white male authors who call themselves “Puppies” and argue that storytelling has taken a backseat to identity politics.
Honeymooning with Elizabeth Taylor, and Crying All the While: The Fiction of Margot Hentoff
The Harper’s digital archive is a small and unsung national treasure, at least as far as I’m concerned; I’ve spent countless hours sifting through old issues, scanning for early work from familiar names and tracking down forgotten gems from authors whose bylines have largely faded. One such writer is Margot Hentoff, whose short story “Where Do […]
Twinless in Twinsburg
Anya Groner examines her experience of being an identical twin through the lens of an annual Twins Day festival she attended without her sister.
