"Like her other works of nonfiction, her new collection, Dead and Alive, explores the subtle details of art, the complexities of grief, and the political upheavals of our era. Although the book encompasses essays published between 2016 and 2025, taken together, they present cultural criticism and political commentary in a plummier tone than the murkiness that was brewing in the US and the UK throughout those years."
"Smith's urgency in publishing Dead and Alive stems from her desire to honor the dead by showing how we collectively can keep more people alive. Early on in the foreword, Smith encourages readers to approach the essays with curiosity, to think critically with both gratitude and compassion. She openly shares her thoughts on society's ambivalence toward aging while pointing to the material gaps that shape intergenerational conflict."
Material from 2016–2025 presents cultural criticism and political commentary in a plummier tone than the murkiness in the US and UK during those years. The work examines subtle details of art, complexities of grief, and political upheavals. It expresses urgency to honor the dead by showing ways to keep more people alive. It urges curiosity, critical thinking with gratitude and compassion, addresses society's ambivalence toward aging, and highlights material gaps that shape intergenerational conflict. It acknowledges devastation in Gaza while emphasizing ethical political debate and the role of clear, challenging prose.
Read at www.thenation.com
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