Jane Ziegelman writes in 97 Orchard that gefilte fish, one of many immigrant food traditions she describes, came to New York City's tenements with German-speaking Jews at the end of the 19th century. In its original form, the dish featured a chopped and seasoned fish mixture stuffed into the fish's skin before the fish was baked.
When I read a biography, I usually find myself poking, like a nosy houseguest, into shadowy corners that the author, for whatever reason, left unlit. One can find the facts of a life—birth and death dates, education, major accomplishments—anywhere, instantly.
Books
American Christians and Islam: Evangelical Culture and Muslims from the Colonial Period to the Age of Terrorism
Is religion playing a greater role in public life? Rice University sociologist D. Michael Lindsay answers this question with a patiently researched and carefully nuanced yes.
Earl Shorris loves democracy. A contributing editor at Harper’s Magazine, he has written about Native Americans, Latinos, corporate culture, markets and education, examining all in the light of his ferocious devotion to democracy’s flourishing.
Books
Aimee Semple McPherson and the Resurrection of Christian America
Michael Kazin, a scholar of U.S. populism who catalogues William Jennings Bryan’s many public incarnations, chose to write about the Great Commoner for several related reasons.
Thirty years ago Robert Manson Myers sifted through the letters of Georgia planter Charles Colcock Jones (1805–1863) to produce an award-winning book, The Children of Pride: A True Story of Georgia and the Civil War, focused on the white planters’ experiences.
Books
Her Heart Can See: The Life and Hymns of Fanny J. Crosby
Readers may recognize Fanny Crosby’s hymns, including “Blessed Assurance” and “I Am Thine, O Lord,” before they recognize her name. Hence the need for this biography.
Support the Christian Century
The Century's work relies primarily on subscriptions and donations. Thank you for supporting nonprofit journalism.
