American Authors

J.D Salinger died a year ago this Thursday, and in time for that anniversary, there's a newly published biography called, simply, J.D. Salinger: A Life. Book critic Maureen Corrigan says readers who revere Salinger will find a lot that's surprising in his early background.

A new biography tells the story of Buck's Chinese childhood, as the daughter of zealous missionaries. In Pearl Buck in China, Hilary Spurling makes a compelling case for a reappraisal of Buck's fiction -- transforming her from dreary "lady author" into woman warrior.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews Reborn: Journals & Notebooks, 1947 – 1963, the newly published intimate ruminations of Susan Sontag.

Fresh Air's book critic reviews Judith Freeman's new biography The Long Embrace, the story of Philip Marlowe creator Raymond Chandler and his marriage to a woman 18 years older than him.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews Downtown: My Manhattan, by Pete Hamill.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews A Chance Meeting: Intertwined Lives of American Writers and Artists 1854-67, by Rachel Cohen. It's a book about friendships between American writers and artists and photographers.

Maureen Corrigan reviews The Fifth Book of Peace by Maxine Hong Kingston.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Hellman and Hammett" by Joan Mellen--a chronicle of the unconventional 30 year relationship between mystery writer Dashiell Hammett and playwright Lillian Hellman.

Commentator Maureen Corrigan reviews "No Gifts from Chance," Shari Benstock’s new biography of writer Edith Wharton.

John Leonard reviews "New York Days" (Little, Brown, & Co.) by Willie Morris.