Books

Jesse Wegman's book tells the story of James Wilson, a largely forgotten founding father who lived a colorful life and died as a Supreme Court justice on the run from the law and creditors.

Author Eddie Gaude says the nation’s anniversaries have consistently sought to “reinforce a mythology” and obscure dark truths about race in this country.

The novel centers around two young men from the Virginia mountains whose brotherhood is both tested and strengthened when they enlist to fight in World War I.

Michel Martin speaks with Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia about his new book, "The Crooked Places Made Straight: Reflections on the Moral Meaning of America."

Renowned comics journalist Joe Sacco's new book, "The Once and Future Riot," details the deadly 2013 riots in India, but it won't be sold in that country because the publisher blocked it.

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Paul Rudnick about his new novel, The Tuxedo Society.

In America, U.S.A., Princeton historian Eddie Glaude Jr. looks at the country through the lens of its previous anniversaries and centennials. "The divided soul of the nation is in full view," he says.

Now that the FIFA World Cup is underway in Mexico, Canada and the U.S., the drama has shifted to the fields, where there have been several surprising results heading into the first full week.

Summer is the perfect time to go back to great books that whizzed by in spring, including The Family Man, by James Lasdun, The Hill, by Harriet Clark and A Beautiful Loan, by Mary Costello

A stay-out-of-the-water beach read features a giant, sentient sea creature. NPR's Elissa Nadworny talks with Tessa Yang about her debut novel, "The Jelly Fish Problem."