The Self-Deceptions of Empire

David Bromwich is finalist for the 2015 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay for the collection Moral Imagination, which explores the importance of imagination and sympathy in… More

By Way of a Preface

This ode to the essay is from Charles D'Ambrosio's Loitering: New and Collected Essays, a finalist for the 2015 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. More

Three Essays from Limber

Limber is a collection of essays which chart the world's history through its trees and a finalist for the 2015 PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. More

Our Own Maps

My memory was a gift until it became a curse, until no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t forget things I desperately needed to forget so I might… More

The Beiruti Hustle

Beirut is the Elizabeth Taylor of cities: insane, beautiful, tacky, falling apart, aging, and forever drama laden. She’ll also marry any infatuated suitor who promises to make her life… More

Amina

She has, I presume, told him about me: the first heart she broke (or perhaps it was the other way around). It would be different if I was alone… More

The Messenger

When I saw her she was dressed in a shimmering red sari as though she had been wedded that very day. The whole street was glowing because of her.… More

You and Your Partner…

You tell your neighbor that your friend, whom he has met, is babysitting. He says, no, it’s not him. He’s met your friend and this isn’t that nice young… More