22.02.12: Nathan Englander’s New Collection
Nathan Englander’s new stories, written with his trademark blend of the breezy and the biblical, are concerned with mercy, vengeance and righteousness.

22.02.12: ‘Girlchild,’ Tupelo Hassman’s Debut Novel
The heroine of this first novel is robbed of her innocence, virginity and chance to make good.

22.02.12: ‘Satan Is Real,’ the Story of the Louvin Brothers
The tempestuous story of an inspirational gospel and country duo.

17.02.12: Essay: The Washington Wives’ Book Club
Children’s literature by women named Gingrich, Cheney and Biden. Could this be an election year?

22.02.12: ‘The Obamas,’ by Jodi Kantor
Jodi Kantor examines the relationship between Michelle and Barack Obama and its public consequences.

22.02.12: How an Egyptian Revolution Began on Facebook
How an Egyptian Google executive’s Facebook page helped spark a movement.

22.02.12: Reading Life: Next Time, Try ‘Unflagging’
“Tireless” and “tirelessly” are words writers seem to use without paying them much attention.

22.02.12: A New History of the Philippine-American War
At the turn of the 20th century, Theodore Roosevelt set out to transform the United States into a major world power.

22.02.12: Olaf Olafsson’s New Novel, ‘Restoration’
A forged Caravaggio is the link between two love triangles in this World War II novel.

22.02.12: David Snodin’s ‘Iago,’ and More New Fiction
Tress, who is known in part for his keen sense of the everyday absurd, took these recently rediscovered photographs at the age of 23, in a pivotal year in which San Francisco was host to the Republicans' Goldwater convention, the first stop on the Beatles' first North American tour and the staging ground for a series of influential civil rights demonstrations. Above, "Untitled (Coit Tower)."New novels by David Snodin, Chan Koonchung, Liz Moore, Amy Franklin-Willis and Suzzy Roche.

22.02.12: ‘Liebestod,’ Leslie Epstein’s New Operatic Farce
A centenarian maestro is Leslie Epstein’s quixotic hero.

17.02.12: Letters: 20th-Century Ideas
Readers respond to a recent review of “Thinking the Twentieth Century” by Tony Judt with Timothy Snyder.

17.02.12: Letter: ‘Ice Balloon’: The Film
A reader responds to a recent review of “The Ice Balloon” by Alec Wilkinson.

17.02.12: Letter: Moral Fiction
A reader responds to a recent review of “Street Sweeper” by Elliot Perlman.

17.02.12: Letter: She Didn’t Look Jewish
A reader responds to a recent review of Marni Davis’s “Jews and Booze.”

09.09.10: Books F.A.Q.

22.02.12: The Artist Martin Kippenberger Through the Eyes of His Sister
The German artist Martin Kippenberger’s hard work and frequent play, seen through the eyes of one of his sisters.

22.02.12: Essay: The Impact of Books on Washington Policy
A book, by its mere existence, can lend legitimacy to an argument in Washington’s sound-bite-driven debate.

17.02.12: Archive: Book Review Podcast
This week, Nathan Englander on his new collection of stories; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Roberta Smith talks about the German artist Martin Kippenberger; Ginia Bellafante introduces the latest Big City Book Club; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. Sam Tanenhaus is the host.

17.02.12: Up Front
Jose Antonio Vargas and the decision to come out as an undocumented immigrant.

23.02.12: Critic’s Notebook: Presidents Sometimes Take the Role of First Musician
President Obama sang again on Tuesday night, carrying on a tradition of chief executives who dabble in music.

23.02.12: New York Philharmonic Announces Next Season’s Schedule
With the pianist Emanuel Ax as artist in residence next season, the New York Philharmonic will highlight the tastes of its music director, Alan Gilbert, in a series of programs.

23.02.12: New iPad App, ‘The Guitar Collection: George Harrison’
A new app called “The Guitar Collection: George Harrison,” scheduled to go on sale Thursday, offers an interactive way to get close to the former Beatle’s cherished instruments.

23.02.12: Music Review: D’Banj and Other African Stars at Irving Plaza
, the Nigerian pop star, headlined a show of African music at Irving Plaza on Sunday night.The Nigerian pop star D’Banj performed on Sunday at Irving Plaza and shared the stage with some labelmates: Wande Coal, Dr. Sid, Ikechukwu and D’Prince.

22.02.12: ArtsBeat: More Awards, and Lots More Sales, for Adele
On Tuesday, Adele won two top prizes at the Brit Awards, Britain's version of the Grammys, taking home best British female solo artist and album of the year for "21."

21.02.12: ArtsBeat: Mudhoney, Norah Jones and a Vintage Film Poster
The band is named after a 1965 Russ Meyer film, a famous poster for which has inspired the cover for the singer's next album, due on May 1.

21.02.12: ArtsBeat: Beck and Passion Pit to Play 2nd Annual Governors Ball Music Festival
The festival, which is moving to Randalls Island Park from Governors Island, will be held on June 23 and 24 and will also feature performances by Duck Sauce, Special Disco Version, Modest Mouse, Explosions in the Sky and many others.

23.02.12: Music Review: Eric Owens Uses Wagner as a Grace Note at Zankel Hall
The bass-baritone Eric Owens, recently heard as Alberich in the Met’s “Ring,” gave a song recital at Zankel Hall that ranged from German to French.

23.02.12: Music Review: Juilliard Quartet, With Joseph Lin, at Alice Tully Hall
The Juilliard String Quartet, with Joseph Lin as the first violinist, performed Tuesday in a faculty recital at Alice Tully Hall.

23.02.12: Kay Davis, 91 Dies; Ellington Used Her Voice as Instrument
Ms. Davis, a classically trained coloratura soprano, excelled at singing wordless works.

23.02.12: Music Review: Eric Michael Gillett and La Tanya Hall at Feinstein’s
Eric Michael Gillett and La Tanya Hall sing songs of Ahrens and Flaherty at Feinstein's at Loews Regency.“Nothing to Lose but Your Heart,” a show by Eric Michael Gillett and La Tanya Hall, features the songs of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.

23.02.12: Kevin Gordon Releases ‘Gloryland,’ His First Album Since 2005
Kevin Gordon, a singer-songwriter from the wilds of East Nashville who has a master’s in poetry, just released “Gloryland,” his first album since 2005.

23.02.12: Critic’s Notebook: Rihanna and Chris Brown Appear on Each Other’s Songs
Three years after Chris Brown’s guilty plea to assaulting Rihanna, the two are appearing on each other’s songs in an attempt to change the narrative around their careers.

22.02.12: Music Review: Bargemusic, With the Pianists Olga Vinokur and David Kalhous
with the pianists Olga Vinokur and David Kalhous performing the music of Morton Feldman and others, in the barge's Here and Now series on Friday night.Bargemusic, in its intimate floating concert hall, offered a program that included Morton Feldman’s soft chords and Ligeti’s rambunctious rhythms.

23.02.12: Music Review: Charles Wuorinen’s Works at the Guggenheim Museum
At the Guggenheim, poems by James Tate were set to music by the composer Charles Wuorinen.

22.02.12: Music Review: Lauren Fox Sings Songs of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen
Lauren Fox sings the songs of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen in a cabaret show at the Metropolitan Room.

23.02.12: Elizabeth Connell, Opera Singer, Dies at 65
Ms. Connell, who began her career as a mezzo-soprano, won acclaim internationally in roles by Wagner, Strauss, Beethoven and others.

22.02.12: Music Review: ‘Prima Donna,’ by Rufus Wainwright, Makes American Debut
Melody Moore and Randal Turner in this New York City Opera production at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.Rufus Wainwright’s first opera, “Prima Donna,” is having its American premiere at the Brooklyn Academy of Music as part of New York City Opera’s abbreviated season.

23.02.12: Reviews of Albums From Grimes, Galactic and Tyga
Reviews of albums from Grimes, Galactic and Tyga.

22.02.12: Music Review: The Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall
The ensemble featured Jeremy Denk on piano at Carnegie Hall on Thursday night.Roger Norrington brought some idiosyncratic touches to his program at Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.

23.02.12: Charlie Sheen

A leading man who has displayed a knack for action, comedy, and dramatic roles, "Charlie Sheen" is nearly as well known for his offscreen exploits as for his acting, though after suffering through scandals that would have ended many performers' careers, he overcame bad press and bad habits to enjoy a major comeback on television in the late '90s. "Charlie Sheen" was born Carlos Irwin Estevez to actor "Martin Sheen" (born "Ramon Estevez") and his wife, Janet Templeton, in 1965. By all accounts, young... [more]

23.02.12: Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian, the wealthy daughter of the high-powered defense attorney Robert Kardashian and Kris Kardashian (and the stepdaughter of Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner), grew up in Beverly Hills, CA, and attended an exclusive all-girls Catholic high school in the City of Angels. As a young woman, Kardashian worked at her father's music marketing firm, Movie Tunes, then parlayed her entrepreneurial instincts into a successful career as a wardrobe stylist for television programs, magazine photo layouts, and... [more]

23.02.12: Reese Witherspoon

As one of the most impressively talented members of the emerging New Hollywood of the early 21st century, "Reese Witherspoon" has proven that she can do far more than just pose winsomely for the camera. Born March 22, 1976, in Nashville, TN, Witherspoon was a child model and acted in television commercials from the age of seven. She had a part in the 1991 Lifetime cable movie "Wildflower" before making her 1991 film debut in the coming-of-age story "The Man in the Moon" (1991). The 14-year-old Witherspoon made... [more]

23.02.12: Lindsay Lohan

Child actress "Lindsay Lohan" was already an experienced performer when she made her feature debut in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap. Born in New York City, Lohan began modeling at age three. After appearing in numerous TV commercials, Lohan moved to series TV with a role on the soap operaAnother World from 1996 to 1997. Cast as The Parent Trap's scheming twin sisters after a six month search for just the right girl, Lohan succeeded in filling "Hayley Mills"' shoes, winning over audiences with her pert... [more]

23.02.12: Angelina Jolie

Next to "Liv Tyler", "Angelina Jolie" is the only actress of her generation who can thank her famous father for the lips that have become her trademark. The actress was born Angelina Jolie Voight to the pillow-lipped "Jon Voight" and actress Marcheline Bertrand on June 4, 1975, in Los Angeles.

Raised mostly by her mother after her parents divorced while she was still a baby, Jolie moved around a lot with her mother and brother. She also did a fair amount of traveling as a professional model, living in such... [more]

23.02.12: Robert Pattinson

London-born Robert Pattinson found his acting niche almost instantly, kicking off his career with a string of fantasy roles. After catching the acting bug through amateur theater, the young thespian made his first film appearance at the age of 18, appearing in 2004's Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King, based on a Nordic legend. He followed this up by joining the Harry Potter franchise the following year, playing Cedric Diggory in Goblet of Fire, as well as the subsequent movies. Having captured the hearts of many... [more]

23.02.12: Natalie Portman

With an Oscar before the age of 30, repeated comparisons to "Audrey Hepburn", and the drool of a thousand critics at her feet, "Natalie Portman" has emerged as one of the most promising actresses of her generation.

Born in Jerusalem on June 9, 1981, to an artist mother and doctor father, Portman moved to New York when she was three. Raised on Long Island, she was discovered by a modeling agent who signed her on the spot. Her modeling stint led to an audition for "Luc Besson"'s "Leon" (or "The... [more]

23.02.12: Sandra Bullock

Giving new meaning to the term America's Sweetheart, "Sandra Bullock" won over scores of filmgoers and critics with her wholesome, exuberant portrayals of ordinary women in extraordinary circumstances. Since her breakthrough role as "Speed"'s unwitting heroine, Bullock has enjoyed the type of popularity that was in the past reserved for actresses along the lines of "Mary Pickford" or "Shirley Temple".

Born in Washington, D.C., on July 26, 1964, Bullock was the elder daughter of a vocal coach dad and an... [more]

23.02.12: Jennifer Love Hewitt

Personifying the type of teen spirit most commonly found in Noxzema ads and pep-squad meets, actress "Jennifer Love Hewitt" has brought new meaning to the word "effervescent." The '90s saw Hewitt go from relative obscurity to a bona fide teen queen, to say nothing of one of the most frequently enshrined actresses on the internet.

Hewitt was born on February 21, 1979, in Waco, TX. She made her first appearance on television in 1984 in the show Kids Incorporated (which, coincidentally, once guest-starred... [more]

23.02.12: Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston makes a good case for proving that acting talent can be absorbed by osmosis. From her father John Aniston's stardom on Days of Our Lives to her godfather Telly Savalas, the actress was surrounded by plenty of inspiration from an early age. As Aniston attended the Rudolph Steiner School as a child, she was interested in many forms of art and proved to be a talented painter, eventually having one of her pieces displayed at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. Acting also appealed to her, and... [more]

23.02.12: Miley Cyrus

The daughter of country-music superstar Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus got her start in the entertainment industry on an episode of her father's PAX TV medical series Doc before appearing in Tim Burton's fantastical 2003 adventure Big Fish. A fateful appearance as the character Hannah Montana in the Disney Channel series The Suite Life of Zack and Cody followed in 2006, and her character proved so popular that a spin-off series called Hannah Montana was launched shortly thereafter. In the series, Cyrus portrayed... [more]

23.02.12: George Clooney

As the son of broadcast journalist Nick Clooney and the nephew of chanteuse "Rosemary Clooney", "George Clooney" entered the world with show business coursing through his veins. Born May 6, 1961 in Lexington, Kentucky, the future "E.R." headliner appeared at the tender age of five on his father's Cincinnati talk program, The Nick Clooney Show. In his youth, Clooney honed a sharp interest in sports - particularly baseball - but by adulthood, Clooney launched himself as an onscreen presence, seemingly... [more]

23.02.12: Kristen Stewart

A fervent surfer who bears a striking resemblance to the young "Jodie Foster", "Kristen Stewart" was poised to become a preteen star with her role opposite Foster in "David Fincher"'s atmospheric thriller "Panic Room" (2002). A resident of Los Angeles, Stewart's nascent acting career got off to a promising start when she was cast in two vastly different films. Eschewing fluffy kids' movies, Stewart played troubled single mother "Patricia Clarkson"'s tomboy daughter in independent film darling "Rose Troche"'s... [more]

23.02.12: Knicks roll in advance of Heat showdown
Knicks show off full arsenal in rout of Hawks.

23.02.12: Tiger's victory is a gift from Gonzo
Woods takes bumpy road to first-round victory over Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

22.02.12: Round 1 of the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship
Despite some brushes with trouble, Tiger wins his opener.

22.02.12: Tiger guts out win in Match Play opener
Despite some brushes with trouble, Tiger wins his opener.

23.02.12: Earnhardt in comfort zone for Daytona
Junior is comfortable, 'more in control' as big weekend nears.

23.02.12: Nike working on game plan for Lin
Athletic-shoe giant Nike Inc., which built its global franchise in part through selling signature shoes and apparel of celebrity athletes including Michael Jordan, is discussing opportunities for its latest star player: Jeremy Lin.

23.02.12: Ex-UVA lacrosse player found guilty
A jury convicted a former University of Virginia lacrosse player Wednesday of second-degree murder of his ex-girlfriend in a drunken, jealous rage, rejecting a first-degree murder verdict and a possible life sentence.

23.02.12: Brewers in limbo awaiting Braun verdict
Protracted uncertainty over star's status looms large for Brewers.

23.02.12: Bynum, Gasol star in Lakers' victory
Andrew Bynum had 19 points and 14 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers hit the halfway point of their season with a 96-91 victory over the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night.

23.02.12: Apple Plans New Data Center in Oregon
Apple must be thrilled to be selling millions of iPhones and iPads, but the company has to handle every new device pulling data from its cloud service. So it's not surprising that it has plans to build another data center.

23.02.12: Today's Scuttlebot: Kickstumbler, and Interpreting Microsoft
The technology reporters and editors of The New York Times scour the Web for important and peculiar news. Wednesday's selections include a call for making a museum in Washington to showcase American ingenuity and an analysis of the new information in a TV show on factories in China that make iPhones and iPads.

22.02.12: Amazon Pulls Thousands of E-Books in Dispute
Amazon pulled more than 4,000 e-books distributed by the Independent Publishers Group off its site this week after it failed to exact better terms from the distributor. It's the sharpest dispute between the retailer and publishers in two years, with no resolution in sight.

22.02.12: Apple, Google and Others in Agreement on App Privacy
California's attorney general, Kamala D. Harris, said the state had reached an agreement with Amazon.com, Apple, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Research in Motion to strengthen privacy protections for smartphone owners who download mobile applications. The agreement will force developers to post conspicuous privacy policies.

22.02.12: Microsoft Files E.U. Complaint Against Motorola
The software maker ratcheted up its battle with Google, which acquired Motorola Mobility last year, by accusing the cellphone maker of making its patents too expensive. Read more »

22.02.12: I.B.M. Turns to Big Data Algorithms for Computer Security
I.B.M. is now the latest company to attempt to take a more holistic approach to corporate security using "Big Data." On Wednesday, the company will roll out QRadar, its new security intelligence platform, to track corporate vulnerabilities in real time and cross-reference unusual activity by mining I.B.M.'s X-Force database, the world's largest repository of threat and hacker information.

22.02.12: T-Mobile Urges U.S. to Block Verizon's Spectrum Purchase
In its filing, T-Mobile, the No. 4 cellphone carrier, told the F.C.C. that Verizon's acquisition from cable companies would place an "excessive concentration" of wireless spectrum in Verizon's hands. Read more »

22.02.12: Amazon Broadens Its Computing Reach
The company's Web services computing arm has started selling application-building tools for everything from financial reporting to the logic in a multiplayer online game. Its latest offering widens its appeal from a geeky science project to a mainstream business product.

22.02.12: Daily Report: Apple Defends iPad Name in China
Apple came to a local court in Shanghai to fight allegations that it did not own rights to the iPad trademark in China, David Barboza reports. The legal challenge threatens to prevent the company from selling one of its most popular products in one of its fastest-growing markets.

22.02.12: When the Web Page Comes to You
At a company called BloomReach, former engineers from Google, Yahoo and Facebook use big data algorithms to figure out ways to build better Web pages tailored for and sent directly to consumers.

22.02.12: Today's Scuttlebot: Changes at Flickr and Younger Entrepreneurs
The technology reporters and editors of The New York Times scour the Web for important and peculiar news. Tuesday's selections include an analysis of the reading experience with e-books and the growing numbers of very young chief executives who are getting money from venture capitalists.

22.02.12: Google to Sell Heads-Up Display Glasses by Year's End
Google is currently making a pair of glasses that will be able to stream information to the wearer's eyes in real time. According to several Google employees familiar with the project, the glasses will go on sale to the public by the end of the year.

21.02.12: Microsoft Denies Rumor of Office Software for iPad
A rumor that Microsoft is releasing an iPad version of its Office software was all over the Web on Tuesday. But Microsoft says it's just not true. A Microsoft spokeswoman said: "The Daily story is based on inaccurate rumors and speculation."

21.02.12: Nokia's Windows Phones Get a Good Start in Europe
In the United States, the chances of seeing someone using a Windows Phone 7 handset seem about as good as spotting a leprechaun riding a unicorn. But you'd have a better chance of seeing one of these elusive devices in Europe, where sales are off to a good start.

21.02.12: Body Cameras Will Put Law Officers Under Scrutiny
Taser International's plans to aggressively sell small, body-mounted video cameras to law enforcement agencies will mean more videos of police shootings will show up online. Some police find it strange to have the scrutiny. Others see a benefit from the public watching them in their actual surroundings, rather than through the lens of television dramas. Either way, it will go with the job.