Baldwin, James (1924-87)

Why Do Evil and Suffering Exist? Religion Has One Answer, Literature Another.

In the third installment of an essay series on literature and faith, Ayana Mathis explores how writers have grappled with one of theology’s oldest conundrums.

The 25 Most Influential Works of Postwar Queer Literature

Six opinionated writers debate — and define — the state of L.G.B.T.Q. writing in order to make a list of the most essential works of fiction, poetry and drama right now.

Ming Smith’s Poetic Blur Is on Display in MoMA Photographs

This streetlight mystic shows her painterly photography at MoMA in an archive that celebrates long exposures and perceptual improvisation.

Can Black Literature Escape the Representation Trap?

A crop of recent novels strains against the expectations of a publishing industry attempting to embrace diversity.

The 25 Most Significant New York City Novels From the Last 100 Years

Four writers and one bookseller gathered over Zoom to make a list devoted to fiction in which the city is more than mere setting.