From 1957: Los Angeles is a large city. In some ways it is an important city. But it is not (yet) a great city.

Chicago has James T. Farrell’s Studs Lonigan. New Orleans has John Kennedy Toole’s Ignatius J. Reilly. Boston has Edwin O’Connor’s 'Last Hurrah.' And William Kennedy’s Albany Cycle series has “ironweeds” like Billy and Francis Phelan. What, then, is the greatest book ever written about the New York City Irish?

When we create, we refuse to let darkness have the final say.

John O’Donohue focuses on how paying attention to the outer landscape of our world cultivates the inner landscape of our soul.

Paul Lynch’s 'Prophet Song' was inspired by the Syrian Civil War and the plight of those seeking refuge from the destruction and death occurring in Syria.

Some of Jimmy Breslin’s best work has now been collected and edited by one of Breslin’s true heirs, The New York Times correspondent Dan Barry.