Jan Morris: By the Book
The author, most recently, of “Ciao, Carpaccio!” recently found in her old copy of “Anna Karenina,” in an “evidently intoxicated scrawl,” the inscription “THIS IS THE BETS BOOK I HAVE EVER READ.”
The year’s notable fiction, poetry and nonfiction, selected by the editors of The New York Times Book Review.
The author, most recently, of “Ciao, Carpaccio!” recently found in her old copy of “Anna Karenina,” in an “evidently intoxicated scrawl,” the inscription “THIS IS THE BETS BOOK I HAVE EVER READ.”
A new biography of Isabella of Castile, the driving force of 15th-century Spanish — and therefore European — politics.
Stephen King reviews Rick Bragg’s new book about the rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis.
Bruce Jay Friedman reviews an exhaustively researched biography of the comedian Bob Hope.
Andrew McCarthy on the season’s travel books, including David Greene’s “Midnight in Siberia,” about a journey along the almost 6,000-mile Trans-Siberian Railway.
“Vivian Maier: A Photographer Found,” “Henri Cartier-Bresson: Here and Now,” and more.
New books by Joe Perry, George Clinton, Viv Albertine, Billy Idol and other music stars.
New cookbooks include Cal Peternell’s “Twelve Recipes,” Mark Bittman’s “How to Cook Everything Fast” and more.
Collections of writing from The New Republic, The Baffler, The Believer and n+1.
Memoirs by Roger Moore, Sophia Loren and Anjelica Huston are among the season’s books about movies.
A group portrait of American photographers, including Edward Weston, Ansel Adams and Imogen Cunningham.
A biography of the photographer Sam Wagstaff.
Two essential new books for lovers of American roots music.
Claudia Rankine reviews the latest and perhaps last volume in Dominique de Menil’s monumental archival project.
An account of the career and personal life of Aretha Franklin.
A new memoir by the 86-year-old Gordie Howe, one of the most prolific scorers in hockey history.
New books about “The Great Gatsby” and Vanity Fair offer a chance for renewed consideration of the Jazz Age.
Diane Schoemperlen quilts seven stories out of sources like an 1854 text on natural phenomena and a 1946 Ontario public-school geography textbook.
New books about the lingo of food and finance.
A Freudian take on classic depictions of sexual imagery.
An artisan perfumer urges us to “regain an authentic connection to the sense of smell.”
Robert Twigger’s book about the Nile is a pastiche of history and travelogue.
The story of married advertising artists, and a collection of international product design from World War II until now.
A collection of narratives about meaningful pieces of used clothing.
Lavish reproductions of work by Willem de Kooning, accompanied by research and historical anecdotes.
Peter Plagens offers the fullest survey yet of the protean artist Bruce Nauman’s work.
Kate Williams’s “Ambition and Desire” is the latest in a growing corpus of work about Josephine Bonaparte, Napoleon’s empress.
The actor Cary Elwes relates behind-the-scenes tales from the making of the 1987 classic “The Princess Bride.”
New books about propaganda posters and other items from the relatively short-lived German Democratic Republic.
Charles King traces the making of modern Istanbul.
A comprehensive monograph of the work of the Italian architect Ettore Sottsass.
Scott Saul’s biography “Becoming Richard Pryor” draws on new sources to trace his journey from harshly treated boy in an Illinois brothel to comic genius with a fully honed act in the late 1970s.
Catherine McNeur’s “Taming Manhattan: Environmental Battles in the Antebellum City” recounts the battles over old New York’s barnyard conditions.
Nell Zink’s book “The Wallcreeper” was first written to entertain Jonathan Franzen, a fellow birder.
Eric Asimov reviews five of his favorite new wine books.
The evening sale’s high price: Philip Roth’s annotated first edition of “American Pastoral” sold for $80,000.
Mr. Haruf’s breakthrough novel was “Plainsong,” which was nominated for the National Book Award.
Lynn Caponera, Maurice Sendak’s housekeeper and caretaker for more than 30 years, is pushing ahead to burnish his legacy, amid questions.
The 2002 album “Philadelphia Chickens,” by the children’s writer Sandra Boynton, has now earned platinum status.
Denis Johnson’s “The Laughing Monsters” reads like a mash-up of African novels by Conrad and Greene.
In “The Happiest People in the World,” Brock Clarke’s latest novel, a cartoonist has to move to upstate New York.
To critics who said Mr. Strand’s poems were too dark he replied, “I find them evenly lit.”
Claudia Rankine mixes verse, prose and visual images in “Citizen,” a National Book Award poetry finalist.
A consummate stylist, the British author and baroness accumulated numerous awards for the 18 crime novels produced during her 49-year writing career.
We are in the midst of hard times now, and it feels as if art is failing us.
The year’s best books, selected by the editors of The New York Times Book Review.
The best in picture books, middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction, selected by the children’s book editor of The New York Times Book Review.
The best present ideas, selected by Times experts, to make shopping easy this season.
Like to be first? Get The New York Times Book Review before it appears online every Friday. Sign up for the email newsletter here.
Dana Stevens on Emily Dickinson’s letters to “Master,” and Francine Prose on Kafka’s letters to Felice.
The 100 Notable Books of 2014 include women expanding the possibilities of nonfiction and 10 debut fiction writers.
In new design books, high and low live together peacefully.
“Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream,” “The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil,” and more.
New picture books include “The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night,” illustrated by Peter Spier.
Three holiday books offer different perspectives on seasonal adventures, from the German front lines to a lonely iceberg.
The stories in this collection for young adults are set during the winter holidays, but their real subject is relationships.
Touré reviews Greil Marcus’s new book about songs that have been interpreted multiple times by artists in different generations.
Geoff Dyer reviews the second volume of Ian Bell’s biography of Bob Dylan.
A biography of the singer Peggy Lee.
A candid autobiography from Herbie Hancock, and a less forthcoming one by George Benson.
P. J. O’Rourke reviews an expanded edition of H. L. Mencken’s memoirs, a full picture of the man and his contradictions.
A cultural historian argues that Oscar Wilde was among the first to realize that celebrity could come before accomplishment.
A biographer says undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder explains everything that Jacqueline Kennedy did during the three decades after witnessing her husband’s assassination.
Michael Ian Black reviews a memoir by John Cleese, one of comedy’s most original minds.
An autobiography by Norman Lear, the creator of “Maude,” “All in the Family” and many other TV series.
A memoir by the comedian and sitcom star Amy Poehler.
New books by Maximillian Potter, William Bostwick, Piero Antinori and Heather Greene.
This week, Parul Sehgal and Gregory Cowles talk about the Book Review’s 10 Best Books of 2014; Alexandra Alter has news from the literary world; Peter Sokolowski discusses four new books about language; and best-seller news. Pamela Paul is the host.
The fantasy writer Patrick Rothfuss is planning to kiss an animal chosen by his Twitter followers, for charity: “It looks overwhelmingly like it will be a llama.”
“Is There a Dog in This Book?” by Viviane Schwarz, and more.
The New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2014, with sample artwork from each.
George W. Bush’s “41,” an affectionate biography of his father, takes readers through the touchstones of an extraordinary life.
A look at books about the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s public art program, a vessel and its designer, and other topics.
“Hijacking the Runway” and “Styling the Stars” offer a look at Hollywood glamour.
SEARCH BOOK REVIEWS SINCE 1981:
Times Topics: Featured Authors