The Word Choices That Explain Why Jane Austen Endures
A piece that analyses Austen’s writing to try to understand her success in the “Darwinian struggle for literary immortality”.
May 1968: A Month of Revolution Pushed France Into the Modern World
The controversy stoked by the month of riots in France 50 years ago had a seismic impact on French society. This photo essay revisits the events in Paris and around the country in May 1968.
The Case of Hong Kong’s Missing Booksellers
This piece sheds light on the dangerous work of Hong Kong’s booksellers. They played a significant role for many decades as an outlet for the politics of mainland China, but they are now facing increasing pressure from its government.
Through the Outback
A piece interspersed with evocative images, describing the photographer-author’s 12,000-mile, three-month journey through Australia’s Outback.
The Aspiring Novelist Who Became Obama’s Foreign Policy Guru
A fascinating peek behind the scenes in the Obama White House, through a profile of one of his key speechwriters.
The Follower Factory
A look at social media’s “black market” for influence in the form of followers and some of its intended and unintended consequences.
Trained to Kill: How Four Boy Soldiers Survived Boko Haram
A moving and troubling piece recounting the experience of four boys abducted by a religious militia in Nigeria and forced to join their army. http://www.bit.ly//nyt-boko
The Big Business of Being Gwyneth Paltrow
An often surreal peek inside the highly successful world of Goop. Gwyneth Paltrow started the business in her kitchen as an aspirational newsletter focusing on fashion and food, but it has now become a ‘wellness’ behemoth, offering a dizzying array of products and services. http://bit.ly/nyt-goop
Tonya Harding Would Like Her Apology Now
An eloquent profile of Tonya Harding, the former professional ice skater caught up in a scandal at the time of the 1994 Winter Olympics, and subject of the new Oscar contender I, Tonya. The piece encompasses poignant reflections on survival, life after infamy, and subjective views of the truth.
Justice Anthony Kennedy’s Tolerance Is Seen in His Sacramento Roots
Anthony Kennedy’s recent announcement of his retirement as a Supreme Court Justice has the potential to change the direction of the court for a generation, due to his frequent role as its swing voter. This 2015 profile examines his position on same-sex marriage.