From the Oxford American’s otherwise strait-laced submission guidelines: “We do not publish pornography, society gossip, or poems about cats.” I should like to add this to our submission guidelines at VQR as soon as possible.
Category Archives: Work
Blue smoke and mirrors.
From the VQR archives, a 1982 review of Larry Sabato’s “The Rise of Political Consultants: New Ways of Winning Elections” that contains some great history about Virginia politics: One may wonder whether it was just coincidence that the decline of the Virginia boss system occurred almost simultaneously with the rise of the consultant system. The […]
Ash Gilbertson’s photos of Iraq.
At VQR we’re providing Ashley Gilbertson’s “Last Photographs” as a preview of our summer issue. Gilbertson is a seasoned Iraq War photographer, and the photo essay is a chilling and revealing account of his most recent visit there. He was interviewed about the essay on “Fresh Air” last week, and we had him in town […]
The future of Star Wars, from the past.
Star Wars fans will get a kick out of VQR’s 1982 article about the future of the nine-part series. 06/13 Update: The article can now be read by non-subscribers. I’m sorry about that.
The long-distance walking craze of the 1870s.
From the Autumn 1980 issue of VQR: The United States of America, in those bursting decades after the Civil War, was in the full grip of a long-distance walking craze and didn’t care who knew it. Journeymen printers and mechanics walked 20 to 60 miles a day, looking for work, and Horace Greeley often boasted […]
The Accidental Plagiarist.
Erik Campbell’s “The Accidental Plagiarist,” from the Spring VQR, is getting a great deal of attention from the internets. Campbell’s thesis is basically that you shouldn’t even try to be original because, really, it’s not possible. Accidental plagiarism is inevitable. Anybody who writes publicly, on blogs or otherwise, will appreciate it.
“Eight Gentlemen from Virginia.”
The late Sen. Emily Couric on the genesis of Hunton & Williams, from the Summer 1990 issue of VQR. 05/09 Update: I failed to make the linked article publicly-accessible but, rather, kept it restricted to VQR subscribers. I’ve opened it up to be read by all now — sorry about that.
Bulletin wins top prize at Ellies.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was just presented with the General Excellence award in the under 100,000 circulation category at the National Magazine Awards, beating out Virginia Quarterly Review. (We won the category last year.) It’s disappointing, obviously, but The Bulletin is an impressive publication, so there’s no begrudging them their victory.
Headed to Blacksburg.
I’m leaving for Blacksburg in the morning. It’s hard to comprehend today’s events from the safety of my home in Charlottesville. I don’t think it will be any easier in Blacksburg. This trip will be for work. If any of my Virginia Tech or Blacksburg readers are interested in talking (on the record or on […]
VQR on borders and barriers.
Crosses along the border wall memorialize those who didn’t make it (Kay Fochtmann / CC) The newly-released spring issue of Virginia Quarterly Review is dedicated to the topic of border walls, notably those found in Israel, the United States, China and formerly in Germany. It’s the pair of articles about the U.S. / Mexico border […]