Ron Chernow on His New Mark Twain Biography
16 May - 42 minsThe biographer Ron Chernow has written about the Rockefellers and the Morgans. His book about George Washington won a Pulitzer Prize. His book about Alexander Hamilton was adapted into a hit Broadway musical. Now, in “Mark Twain,” Chernow turns to the life of the author and humorist who became one of the 19th century’s biggest celebrities and, along the way, did much to reshape American literature in his own image.
On this week’s episode of the podcast, Chernow tells the host Gilbert Cruz how he came to write about Twain and what interested him most about his subject.
“The thing that triggered this Mark Twain mania in me was more Mark Twain the platform artist, Mark Twain the political pun...
Series Episodes
12 Summer Books We're Looking Forward To
Summer arrives just over a month from now. On this week’s episode, Gilbert Cruz talks with Joumana Khatib about some of the books they're most looking forward to.
32 mins
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'The Interview': Isabel Allende Understands How Fear Changes a Society
The Book Review is off this week, but please enjoy this episode of the The New York Times podcast "The Interview," in which Gilbert Cruz speaks with the author Isabel Allende about her new novel "My Name is Emilia del Valle."
42 mins
2 May Finished
Book Club: Let’s Talk About Adam Ross’s ‘Playworld’
Set in New York in the 1980s, Adam Ross’s new novel, “Playworld,” tells the story of a young actor named Griffin as he navigates the chaos of the city, of his family and of being a teenager. On this week’s episode, the Book Club host MJ Franklin discusses “Playworld” with Book Review editors Dave Kim and Sadie Stein.
43 mins
25 April Finished
'The Great Gatsby' at 100
A century after “The Great Gatsby” was first published, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s slender novel about a mysterious, lovelorn millionaire living and dying in a Long Island mansion has become among the most widely read American fictions — and also among the most analyzed and interpreted. A.O. Scott joins host Gilbert Cruz this week to discuss Fitzgerald’s novel and its long afterlife.
31 mins
11 April Finished
