Notes Ancient & Modern

Congratulations to T. J. Stiles, whose The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt has won the National Book Award for Nonfiction, and to Philip Hoose, whose Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice has won the Award for Young People's Literature.

Adam Kirsch,"A Prophet's Pen," Tablet, 17 November, reviews David Rosenberg's A Literary Bible: An Original Translation.

Bonnie S. Benwick,"A tasting menu of savory dishes," Washington Post, 18 November, reviews Andrew Dalby's Cheese: A Global History, Sarah Moss's and Alexander Badenoch's Chocolate: A Global History, and Colleen Taylor Sen's Curry: A Global History.

Diana Athill,"Lore of the Land," Literary Review, November, reviews Madelaine Bunting's The Plot: A Biography of an English Acre.

Janet Maslin,"The Queasy Side of Theodore Roosevelt's Diplomatic Voyage," NYT, 18 November, reviews James Bradley's The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War.

Patrick O'Connor,"The Exuberant Boy," Literary Review, November, reviews John Evans, ed., Journeying Boy: The Diaries of the Young Benjamin Britten, 1928-1938.

David Greenberg,"Sarah Palin = Dan Quayle," Slate, 17 November, argues that our national nightmare will not happen.