Recent Reviews
‘Egyptomania,’ by Bob Brier
Readers seeking a serious history of the West’s infatuation with “the land of the pharaohs” should look elsewhere.
“What Humanists Do” — the winter issue of Daedalus
For this special issue, a range of scholars chose the books that inspire them most.
Book World: ‘Orfeo,’ by Richard Powers
A brilliant novel tells the tale of an avant-garde composer accused of bioterrorism.
Fiction: ‘The Lost Domain,’ by Alain-Fournier
The 100th anniversary of the French masterpiece, “Le Grand Meaulnes.”
‘Tales of the City’ wraps with ‘The Days of Anna Madrigal’
Forty years after “Tales of the City” began, and elderly Anna prepares to leave like a lady.
New issue of Granta: ‘Do You Remember’
An essay about South Africa by Jonny Steinberg and a story about dying by David Gates are among the highlights of the winter issue.
Fiction: ‘The Kept,’ by James Scott
A boy and his mom set out to find the men who murdered their family in James Scott’s powerful debut novel.
Book World: ‘Careless People’ by Sarah Churchwell
A history of 1922 as it was lived by the Fitzgeralds and their circle, as well as by the cast of “The Great Gatsby.”
How new technologies will drive an economic growth spurt
‘The Second Machine Age,’ by Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee.
The rise and decline of D.C.’s Dunbar High School
“First Class” looks at the rise and fall of Dunbar, the nation’s first public high school for African Americans.
An unsolved mystery from World War II
Did a Japanese war criminal fake insanity to escape the executioner’s noose?
An American eats her way through France
Ann Mah’s “Mastering the Art of French Eating” is her culinary exploration of French food.
Hilary Mantel to publish ‘The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher’
Collection of short stories is expected to appear in September.
How a lawyer grapples with life and death issues
David Dow represents Texas death row inmates, mediates on mortality and the state’s willingness to kill
Review: ‘I’ll Take You There,’ by Greg Kot
Gret Kot tells the story of Mavis Staples and her family’s road to pop stardom and civil rights activism.
Women of scandal, shock and awe — long before Miley
In “Flappers,” Judith Mackrell profiles six iconoclastic women who made the 1920s sizzle.
‘The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles,’ by Katherine Pancol
When her husband absconds to Kenya to raise crocs, poor Jo must find a quick way to make money.
Fiction: ‘The Conductor and Other Tales,’ by Jean Ferry
These very short stories may remind you of Italo Calvino or Steven Millhauser at their most beguiling.
Decades later, ‘Polly’ comics still tickle the funny bone
REVIEW | Book gives sophisticated cartoonist Cliff Sterrett his due.
Fiction: ‘Perfect,’ by Rachel Joyce
A thoughtful new novel by the author of “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.”
Fiction: ‘Andrew’s Brain,’ by E.L. Doctorow
REVIEW | The rambling testimony of a depressed scientist presents a puzzle that’s not worth solving.
‘The Way of All Fish,’ by Martha Grimes
The delightfully goofy sequel to Grimes’s satire of publishing, “Foul Matter”
Thriller: ‘The Last Dead Girl,’ by Harry Dolan
This is dark material, yet Dolan balances it with his portrayal of a world much like the one we know.
How our bodies are ill-adapted to 21st-century life
Daniel E. Lieberman discusses the impact of natural selection and the dynamics of evolution on our bodies.
Authors and alcoholism
In “The Trip to Echo Spring,” Olivia Laing looks at six American authors and their boozing ways.
How society makes people fat
Deborah Cohen doesn’t blame fat people for their obesity but rather the “obesogenic environment” around us.
Fiction: ‘The Pagan Lord,’ by Bernard Cornwell
This is the seventh installment of the exciting Saxon Tales series about the creation of England.
Dark tales from deep within the CIA
In “Company Man,” John Rizzo describes his long career, including his role in interrogation policy.
Review: ‘Mozart,’ by Paul Johnson
The great composer’s life was not so tragic — or debt-ridden — as we’ve been led to believe, historian writes.
Amiri Baraka, poet and firebrand, dies at 79
The writer, once known as LeRoi Jones, was a provocative voice of the Black Arts movement of the 1960s.
Book review: ‘Famous Writers I Have Known,’ by James Magnuson
A wickedly funny satire of writing workshops.
Swift’s brilliance, shining through his life’s mysteries
Swift’s writing is pervasively ironic, but in a new biography it sometimes it seems his life is, too.
National Book Festival thrown off the Mall
After 12 years on the Mall, the National Book Festival is moving to the Washington Convention Center.
Gates unloads on Obama in memoir
The well-respected former defense secretary treats his new book almost like an extended therapy session.
Fiction: ‘Red Sky in Morning,’ by Paul Lynch
A poor tenant farmer kills his landlord’s son — and runs for his life.
‘Wonder of Wonders’ examines ‘Fiddler’s’ place in culture
“Fiddler on the Roof” is what you make of it, and it belongs to everyone, “Wonders” author concludes.
Fiction: ‘On Such a Full Sea,’ by Chang-rae Lee
In a bleak, future America, a young woman strikes out to find her lover.
Book World: ‘The Invention of Wings’ by Sue Monk Kidd
When a young girl is given a slave, their destinies — and the nation’s — are bound together.
Thriller: ‘The Midas Murders,’ by Pieter Aspe
Police Inspector Pieter Van In must stop terrorists set on destroying the Belgium tourism industry.
Elizabeth Jane Howard, British author, dies at 90
Ms. Howard’s acclaimed novels included ‘The Cazalet Chronicles,’ set on an English country estate.
Washington Post Bestsellers Jan. 19
The books Washington has been reading.
Washington: From cover to cover
From novels to history to cooking and ghost stories, Post editors and critics offer introduction to capital.
Book World: ‘Orfeo,’ by Richard Powers
A brilliant novel tells the tale of an avant-garde composer accused of bioterrorism.
Fiction: ‘Andrew’s Brain,’ by E.L. Doctorow
REVIEW | The rambling testimony of a depressed scientist presents a puzzle that’s not worth solving.
National Book Festival to move indoors this year
After 12 years on the Mall, the Library of Congress event is moving to the D.C. convention center.
‘Egyptomania,’ by Bob Brier
Readers seeking a serious history of the West’s infatuation with “the land of the pharaohs” should look elsewhere.
Fiction: ‘The Conductor and Other Tales,’ by Jean Ferry
These very short stories may remind you of Italo Calvino or Steven Millhauser at their most beguiling.
Swift’s brilliance, shining through his life’s mysteries
Swift’s writing is pervasively ironic, but in a new biography it sometimes it seems his life is, too.
Coming of age in Flyover Country
The writer Diane Johnson recounts her Midwest childhood in the 1940s and ‘50s
Authors and alcoholism
In “The Trip to Echo Spring,” Olivia Laing looks at six American authors and their boozing ways.
Short and strange: The Post’s list of best books for 2013
Our book critic’s favorite reads for 2013 skews in favor of British and Irish writers
Literary Calendar
Going Out Guide: Upcoming events
Get the latest on readings, signings and author appearances in the D.C. area.
Elsewhere in Entertainment
The Post Most: Entertainment
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'Sherlock' makers sticking to abbreviated seasons -
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Opera singer Renee Fleming chosen to sing anthem at Super Bowl -
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TV highlights: 'Rake' premieres and 'Community' says goodbye to Donald Glover -
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Armistead Maupin's 'Tales of the City' wraps with 'The Days of Anna Madrigal' -
5UNESCO Jewish exhibit delayed for 6 months
