As the Democratic National Convention opens in Denver, Sean Wilentz,"A Liberal's Lament," Newsweek, 23 August, lays out what he sees as the challenge that lies ahead for Barack Obama; and David Leonhardt,"How Obama Reconciles Dueling Views on Economy," NYT, 20 August, looks at his perspective on the economy.

Jeffrey R. Young,"'Cinematic Maps' Animate Historical U.S. Election Data," CHE, 25 August, introduces"Voting America: United States Politics, 1840-2008," a project developed at the University of Richmond. The project was prompted by U of R's new president, Ed Ayers, whose"Valley of the Shadow" project at the University of Virginia became one of the most important early efforts in digital history.

Carolyn See,"What's Love Got to Do With It?" Washington Post, 24 August, reviews Susan Squires's I DON'T: A Contrarian History of Marriage.

Linda Robinson,"Rum and Revolution," Washington Post, 24 August, reviews Tom Gjelten's Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba: The Biography of a Cause.

Andrew Lambirth,"Perennial Cézanne," Spectator, 20 August, reviews"The Courtauld Cézannes," an exhibit at London's Courtauld Institute of Art, 26 June-5 October.

Peter Pringle,"Liquidated," Washington Post, 24 August, reviews Andrew Meier's The Lost Spy: An American in Stalin's Secret Service .