Contents

Introduction

PART ONE

Reflections

THEN

NOSTALGIA

THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS

TWO WOMEN

MOTHER’S KNEE

KANT’S LITTLE PRUSSIAN HEAD AND OTHER REASONS WHY I WRITE

OUR DOGS

HOW TO BE A BETTER WOMAN IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

TEENAGE GIRLS

THE TIME FOR ART IS NOW

PART TWO

Criticism: Books

Three Essays on Camus and His Legacy

CAMUS AND ALGERIA: THE MORAL QUESTION

A NEW L’ÉTRANGER

THE BROTHER OF THE STRANGER: KAMEL DAOUD

KAZUO ISHIGURO

JANE BOWLES

ITALO SVEVO

TEJU COLE

MAGDA SZABÓ

RACHEL CUSK

SAUL FRIEDLÄNDER

YASMINE EL RASHIDI

VALERIA LUISELLI

PART THREE

Criticism: Images

ALICE NEEL

MARLENE DUMAS

SALLY MANN

A HOME FROM HOME: BOSTON’S MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

Acknowledgments

Index of Publications