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鈥楾he Last Assassin鈥� breathes life into the events of Julius Caesar鈥檚 deathBy looking through the eyes of a minor player in the assassination, Peter Stothard is able to tell a more intimate tale.
Pushing the bounds of form in 鈥楾he Glorious American Essay鈥�Phillip Lopate's choices for this fine anthology may stretch the parameters of an essay, but he's made distinctive and evocative selections.聽
Agatha, decoded, in 鈥淭he Mystery of Mrs. Christie鈥�The bestselling mystery writer of all time had secrets of her own. A new historical novel imagines what happened during her 11-day disappearance.
Henry Adams clung to the idea of a ruling elite in American lifeA biography of Henry Adams, a blue-blooded Bostonian descended from two presidents, explores his resistance to societal changes and industrialization.
鈥楾he Last Days of Ellis Island鈥� probes bureaucracy and abuse of powerA historical novel imagines the thoughts of a fictional commissioner, whose assault on a young immigrant years before leaves him full of regret.
鈥楤lack Sun鈥� weaves fantastic worlds in faraway landsAn ambitious fantasy series is packed with vibrant characters and political intrigue 鈥� and isn't stuck in the classic Eurocentric setting, either.
Audiobooks to bring delight to the holiday seasonSometimes, all you need is a warm story to get through dark times, and the best four audiobooks of December 2020 have heart and optimism in spades.
Bite-size book reviews: Fiction our readers loved in 2020Need a new novel? Classic adventures, satire, and dystopian science fiction top this year's round-up of reader book recommendations for fiction.聽
The real deal: Nonfiction books our readers loved in 2020Need a new book? "Silver, Sword, and Stone" and other history titles top this year's round-up of reader book recommendations for non-fiction.
Remember 鈥楳y Dinner with Andre鈥�? He has more wisdom to bestow.Theater director Andr茅聽Gregory has had a rocky career and personal life, but one thing shines through: his devotion to the pursuit of perfection.
鈥楾he Light Ages鈥� argues for a rebranding of the medieval periodThe Dark Ages were not solely about battles and plagues, says historian Seb Falk. Instead, they included a flourishing of scientific inquiry.聽
Last-minute gifts: The 10 best books of December 2020Just in time for the holidays, it鈥檚 the Monitor鈥檚 selections for the top books of December 2020 all wrapped up and tied with a bow.
A life unconquered by Taliban rule in 鈥楧ancing in the Mosque鈥�As a girl, Homeira Qaderi watched the Taliban take over her home city in Afghanistan. As a young woman, she took a dangerous stand.聽聽
Obama memoir 鈥楢 Promised Land鈥� delivers earnest self-reflectionThe 44th president of the United States does more than defend his legacy; he shares the values that have animated his life and political career.
Q&A with Lesley-Ann Jones, author of 鈥楾he Search for John Lennon鈥�The British rock historian answers questions about one of music鈥檚 brightest stars 鈥� and the shadows he left behind.
鈥楾ecumseh and the Prophet鈥� shines a light on Native American resistanceShawnee warrior Tecumseh has been portrayed nobly, while his brother fared poorly at the hands of historians. Peter Cozzens balances the story.聽
Q&A with Ravi Somaiya, author of 鈥楾he Golden Thread鈥�United Nations secretary-general Dag聽Hammarskj枚ld 鈥済enuinely tried to do good and was also quite effective鈥� during the Cold War, according to聽Somaiya.
A bear lives, hunts, and watches the Arctic melt in 鈥業ce Walker鈥�Through the eyes of a polar bear comes a beautifully-written, wrenching narrative of a warming planet and the struggle to survive.
The best nonfiction books of 2020 offer wisdom and insightExplore the life of intrepid explorer Sanmao, how America rewrote its own history, and聽Abraham Lincoln鈥檚 legacy in the best nonfiction titles of 2020.
See the world differently with the best fiction books of 2020From a riff on 鈥淧ride and Prejudice鈥� to a sagacious story of race and belonging, the best fiction books of 2020 offer fresh ideas and perspectives.
