FIELD NOTES
The 250-year-old man/Miss Manners goes to college/Full-court chess, and more
BREAKTHROUGH BOOKS
Race
INSIDE PUBLISHING
Eyes off the prize/The convergence of the Twain/Kodak history/and more
A Pirate's Progress
The pirate has long been the stuff of nightmares. Now, an increasing number
of scholars argue that the bloodthirsty bootleggers were, in fact, racially
tolerant, gay-positive promoters of democracy. But have some of these scholars
gone overboard?
BY LAWRENCE OSBORNE
The Polish Perplex
In England, Norman Davies's monumental history of Europe was hailed as an
instant classic upon its publication last year. At last, Poland and the
rest of Eastern Europe were given their due. But in America, the response
has been vitriolicas critics question Davies's command of facts and apparent
political biases. Is Davies a latter-day Gibbonor an ideologue with an ax
to grind?
BY JONATHAN MAHLER
As Bad As It Gets
Many academic departments are riven by deep resentments and intractable
debates. And yet, most manage to muddle along. What happens to those that
can't? Receivership. Three tales of departments on the brink.
BY CHARLOTTE ALLEN
Attention Deficits
Johnny can't read. Depending on whether he's rich or poor, white or black,
he may either be lovingly tutored or written off as a lost cause. In a new
book, a legal scholar exposes the inequalities wrought by the learning-disabilities
movementand questions whether the disability diagnosis makes any sense at
all.
BY S. D. METCALF
CLASSIFIED
CONFERENCES
HYPOTHESES
Jim Holt on the dangers of driving sober.
