Lapham’s Quarterly
@laphamsquarterly.bsky.social
A magazine of history and ideas. Our latest issue is Energy.
Sometime in the late 1580s, Christopher Marlowe came upon a book that jolted him. Entitled “The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus,” it was an English translation, done by someone who signed himself “P.F. Gent.” www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/h...
This Is Hell, Nor Am I Out of It | Stephen Greenblatt
On Christopher Marlowe’s Faustian bargains.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
November 25, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Sometime in the late 1580s, Christopher Marlowe came upon a book that jolted him. Entitled “The History of the Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Doctor John Faustus,” it was an English translation, done by someone who signed himself “P.F. Gent.” www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/h...
Stephen Greenblatt on Christopher Marlowe’s Faustian bargains. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/h...
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Stephen Greenblatt on Christopher Marlowe’s Faustian bargains. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/h...
This week on the podcast, Donovan Hohn speaks with Stephen Greenblatt about “Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival.” www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Episode 18: Stephen Greenblatt on Christopher Marlowe
The latest episode of The World in Time.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
November 21, 2025 at 9:49 PM
This week on the podcast, Donovan Hohn speaks with Stephen Greenblatt about “Dark Renaissance: The Dangerous Times and Fatal Genius of Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival.” www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
In which @alexanderchee.bsky.social and @calebcrain.bsky.social propose that Moby Dick, dedicated to Nathaniel Hawthorne, might be read as “a love letter.” www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Episode 17: Queequeg and Ishmael in Love (with Alexander Chee, Aaron Sachs, and Caleb Crain)
The latest episode of The World in Time.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
November 18, 2025 at 8:52 PM
In which @alexanderchee.bsky.social and @calebcrain.bsky.social propose that Moby Dick, dedicated to Nathaniel Hawthorne, might be read as “a love letter.” www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Reposted by Lapham’s Quarterly
Reposted by Lapham’s Quarterly
“‘It’s awful,’ the historian said.
‘All true,’ I said.”
A collage essay from @hernyfreebland.bsky.social, published by @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social.
‘All true,’ I said.”
A collage essay from @hernyfreebland.bsky.social, published by @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social.
The American Scheme of Things, by Henry Freedland
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November 11, 2025 at 8:01 PM
“‘It’s awful,’ the historian said.
‘All true,’ I said.”
A collage essay from @hernyfreebland.bsky.social, published by @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social.
‘All true,’ I said.”
A collage essay from @hernyfreebland.bsky.social, published by @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social.
Reposted by Lapham’s Quarterly
Aaron Sachs, author of Up from the Depths, speaks with Donovan Hohn about chapter 72 of Moby Dick for @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social’s The World in Time podcast:
Episode 17: Queequeg and Ishmael in Love (with Alexander Chee, Aaron Sachs, and Caleb Crain)
The latest episode of The World in Time.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
November 10, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Aaron Sachs, author of Up from the Depths, speaks with Donovan Hohn about chapter 72 of Moby Dick for @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social’s The World in Time podcast:
Re-reading Moby Dick at Ahab’s age. An essay by @calebcrain.bsky.social. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/a...
Another Cruise | Caleb Crain
Re-reading Moby Dick at Ahab’s age.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Re-reading Moby Dick at Ahab’s age. An essay by @calebcrain.bsky.social. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/a...
In an extended, 3-part installment of our intermittent series on Moby Dick and the history of the sea, this podcast considers the novel’s love story—the story of Queequeg and Ishmael’s friendship and marriage—as well as the novel’s dedication to Hawthorne. www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Episode 17: Queequeg and Ishmael in Love (with Alexander Chee, Aaron Sachs, and Caleb Crain)
The latest episode of The World in Time.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:53 PM
In an extended, 3-part installment of our intermittent series on Moby Dick and the history of the sea, this podcast considers the novel’s love story—the story of Queequeg and Ishmael’s friendship and marriage—as well as the novel’s dedication to Hawthorne. www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Reposted by Lapham’s Quarterly
In which I reminisce with @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social about my long career of queering Melville . . .
Episode 17: Queequeg and Ishmael in Love (with Alexander Chee, Aaron Sachs, and Caleb Crain)
The latest episode of The World in Time.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
November 7, 2025 at 3:14 PM
In which I reminisce with @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social about my long career of queering Melville . . .
Reposted by Lapham’s Quarterly
I spoke to Donovan Hohn of @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social for their Moby Dick podcast. We talked about Chapter 4, my Queequeg and Ishmael fanfic (Quishmael for my fellow old Tumblr heads) and Melville’s unrequited love for Nathaniel Hawthorne.
www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Episode 17: Queequeg and Ishmael in Love (with Alexander Chee, Aaron Sachs, and Caleb Crain)
The latest episode of The World in Time.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
November 7, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I spoke to Donovan Hohn of @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social for their Moby Dick podcast. We talked about Chapter 4, my Queequeg and Ishmael fanfic (Quishmael for my fellow old Tumblr heads) and Melville’s unrequited love for Nathaniel Hawthorne.
www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Reposted by Lapham’s Quarterly
“That’s the trouble with dreams of power. It stimulates anxiety about a catastrophe that has yet to happen. ”
@hernyfreebland.bsky.social in a collage essay which was published by @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social.
@hernyfreebland.bsky.social in a collage essay which was published by @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social.
The American Scheme of Things, by Henry Freedland
We've recently updated our website to make signing in easier and more secure
buff.ly
November 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM
“That’s the trouble with dreams of power. It stimulates anxiety about a catastrophe that has yet to happen. ”
@hernyfreebland.bsky.social in a collage essay which was published by @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social.
@hernyfreebland.bsky.social in a collage essay which was published by @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social.
“One of the poignancies of Darrow’s life is that it was hard for him to feel better. He wanted people to feel better. There was so much cruelty in the world. I wonder if, in his heart of hearts, Bryan also couldn’t stand that meaninglessness.” www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Episode 16: Brenda Wineapple on the Scopes Trial
The latest episode of The World in Time.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
October 28, 2025 at 8:58 PM
“One of the poignancies of Darrow’s life is that it was hard for him to feel better. He wanted people to feel better. There was so much cruelty in the world. I wonder if, in his heart of hearts, Bryan also couldn’t stand that meaninglessness.” www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Brenda Wineapple on the hundredth anniversary of Tennessee v. Scopes. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/t...
The Trial of the Century | Brenda Wineapple
On the hundredth anniversary of Tennessee v. Scopes
www.laphamsquarterly.org
October 27, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Brenda Wineapple on the hundredth anniversary of Tennessee v. Scopes. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/t...
This week on the podcast, Donovan Hohn speaks with Brenda Wineapple, longtime member of the Lapham’s Quarterly editorial board. www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Episode 16: Brenda Wineapple on the Scopes Trial
The latest episode of The World in Time.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
October 24, 2025 at 6:27 PM
This week on the podcast, Donovan Hohn speaks with Brenda Wineapple, longtime member of the Lapham’s Quarterly editorial board. www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Reposted by Lapham’s Quarterly
The collage essay I put together for @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social out of Lewis Lapham’s sentences is excerpted in the new issue of @harpers.bsky.social.
Feels fittingly full circle: I sourced many of the sentences from his Harper’s columns, and LQ is effectively Readings through history.
Feels fittingly full circle: I sourced many of the sentences from his Harper’s columns, and LQ is effectively Readings through history.
The American Scheme of Things, by Henry Freedland
harpers.org
October 23, 2025 at 1:55 AM
The collage essay I put together for @laphamsquarterly.bsky.social out of Lewis Lapham’s sentences is excerpted in the new issue of @harpers.bsky.social.
Feels fittingly full circle: I sourced many of the sentences from his Harper’s columns, and LQ is effectively Readings through history.
Feels fittingly full circle: I sourced many of the sentences from his Harper’s columns, and LQ is effectively Readings through history.
“There’s nothing more extraordinary than the world we live in … We have evolved to pay a lot of attention to our fellow humans. But if we look beyond that, even for an instant, we see that the world is an absolutely amazing place.” www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Episode 15: Elizabeth Kolbert
The latest episode of The World in Time.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
October 10, 2025 at 8:06 PM
“There’s nothing more extraordinary than the world we live in … We have evolved to pay a lot of attention to our fellow humans. But if we look beyond that, even for an instant, we see that the world is an absolutely amazing place.” www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Experiencing history in Assassin’s Creed. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/i...
It’s Time for Some Game Theory | Caroline Wazer
Experiencing history in Assassin’s Creed.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
October 8, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Experiencing history in Assassin’s Creed. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/i...
Peggy Guggenheim’s Manhattan project. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/a...
Art of This Century | Mike Wallace
Peggy Guggenheim’s Manhattan project.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
October 8, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Peggy Guggenheim’s Manhattan project. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/a...
“But what is important to me in ‘The Sermon’ is that he—how can I put this?—he is the person who wants to bring a sense of proportion. And Ahab is the person who wants you to give up any sense of proportionality.” www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Episode 14: Charles Baxter on “The Sermon”
The latest episode of The World in Time.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
October 1, 2025 at 12:12 AM
“But what is important to me in ‘The Sermon’ is that he—how can I put this?—he is the person who wants to bring a sense of proportion. And Ahab is the person who wants you to give up any sense of proportionality.” www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Reposted by Lapham’s Quarterly
“Father Mapple is in some strange, almost obscure way, a kind of negative double for Ahab.... he is the person who wants to bring a sense of proportion. Father Mapple kind of supplies a warning and a possible lens for a reading of the entire novel" - Retired Prof/novelist Charles Baxter on Moby Dick
Charles Baxter visits The World in Time to talk with Donovan Hohn about the politics and the mysteries of charisma in Moby Dick. www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Episode 14: Charles Baxter on “The Sermon”
The latest episode of The World in Time.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
September 29, 2025 at 6:23 PM
“Father Mapple is in some strange, almost obscure way, a kind of negative double for Ahab.... he is the person who wants to bring a sense of proportion. Father Mapple kind of supplies a warning and a possible lens for a reading of the entire novel" - Retired Prof/novelist Charles Baxter on Moby Dick
Read Charles Baxter on the literature and politics of charisma. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/f...
The Flag of Ahab | Charles Baxter
On the literature and politics of charisma.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
September 29, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Read Charles Baxter on the literature and politics of charisma. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/f...
Charles Baxter visits The World in Time to talk with Donovan Hohn about the politics and the mysteries of charisma in Moby Dick. www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Episode 14: Charles Baxter on “The Sermon”
The latest episode of The World in Time.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
September 26, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Charles Baxter visits The World in Time to talk with Donovan Hohn about the politics and the mysteries of charisma in Moby Dick. www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
J. Edgar Hoover’s Federal Bureau of Investigation opened its file on James Baldwin in April 1960 when Baldwin’s name appeared among the signatories to an open letter that the Fair Play for Cuba Committee published as an advertisement in the New York Times. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/b...
Bad Reviews
The FBI reads James Baldwin.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
September 18, 2025 at 4:07 PM
J. Edgar Hoover’s Federal Bureau of Investigation opened its file on James Baldwin in April 1960 when Baldwin’s name appeared among the signatories to an open letter that the Fair Play for Cuba Committee published as an advertisement in the New York Times. www.laphamsquarterly.org/roundtable/b...
“They really were outsiders, all of them. Sometimes people think, oh, well, he was just drawn to these men who were essentially straight, like he had some kind of complex or something. Maybe. But he was also just drawn to these crazy outsiders. www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...
Episode 13: Nicholas Boggs on James Baldwin
The latest episode of The World in Time.
www.laphamsquarterly.org
September 16, 2025 at 6:58 PM
“They really were outsiders, all of them. Sometimes people think, oh, well, he was just drawn to these men who were essentially straight, like he had some kind of complex or something. Maybe. But he was also just drawn to these crazy outsiders. www.laphamsquarterly.org/content/epis...