DEAD AND ALIVE Essays

Writer Zadie Smith narrates her essays with a measured cadence, a clear tone, and the accent of an educated Brit. Topics range from painters to tech to writing. Her critical but even gaze includes explorations of the books BLACK MANHATTAN and BLACK BRITAIN. She looks at the relationships between painters: the celebrated Lucian Freud and the much younger and later renowned Celia Paul (the mother of two of Freud's offspring). Memorable eulogies honor Hilary Mantel, Toni Morrison, Philip Roth (whom she knew well), and Joan Didion (whom she admired). She shares her own proclivities, which range from childhood TV bingeing to the 10,000 books in her home. A worthwhile collection reveals a writer unafraid to test ideas, share opinions, and bare her soul. A.D.M. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2025]