Table of Contents

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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.

BOOKSHELF




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