Current Events that Relate to History
Recently Published
View AllOriginal features and excerpts of new books
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Excerpts
The Art of Writing History
How Eric Hobsbawm brought revolution to a broad audience. -
Features
Young Washington Is Old History
A new movie relies on 19th century myths to portray the very British George Washington as a moralistic proto-American ready to pursue independence. -
Excerpts
A Danger to Civilization
Lothrop Stoddard believed that the concept of “natural equality” between people was a threat to America. In the 1920s, it was hardly a fringe idea.
In the Newsletter
View All EditionsCurated collections that explore a different theme each week
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Book ReviewHe Gave the Knicks Their Name. Why Was He Forgotten?
A new biography of Washington Irving attempts to rescue New York’s original mythmaker from literary oblivion.The New Yorker -
CommentWhat Vance Sees in Huey Long
The Kingfish is a worthy model for right-wing populists.The American Conservative -
ProfileEmpire of Grunge
How William Boeing made Kurt Cobain.Imperialist Realism -
LongreadThe Polymarketification of American Life
Prediction markets have been trying to skirt regulators by selling themselves not as sportsbooks but as insurance.The Baffler -
RetrievalThe Moment the Revolution Was Nearly Lost
In August 1776, Washington suffered a defeat that almost resulted in his capture.Washington Post -
ProfileImmanuel Wallerstein Predicted the Fall of the US Empire
Soon after 9/11, the world-systems analyst warned of US imperial decline. Leaders didn’t want to hear it and have managed the decline in the worst possible way.Jacobin -
personDolly Parton
January 19, 1946 — August 25, 2026