Fairie on the Hudson

by Peter J. Leithart

Tara Isabella Burton's novel Here in Avalon hints that life can be guided by unchosen and given quests, lived out in a world teeming with real angels and mysterious human souls. Continue Reading »

15 Mar 2024

First Things and the Physical World

by Samira Kawash

Supporting First Things ensures that the magazine will continue to thrive as something present and real and good.  Continue Reading »

15 Dec 2023

The Men Behind the Met

by John Byron Kuhner

My grandfather died before I was born, and he remains to me a mostly mysterious figure. As is true of many people born poor who are committed to bettering their lot, his hours were taken up with work, family, and church; not much was left for that luxury item we call personality. A big man with paws . . . . Continue Reading »

1 Nov 2023

Beaux-Arts Architecture in New York City

by Mark Bauerlein

Phillip James Dodd joins the podcast to discuss his new book, An American Renaissance: Beaux-Arts Architecture in New York City. Continue Reading »

14 Nov 2022

What Progressives Did to Cities

by Michael Anton

Crime-fighting mayors brought about an urban renaissance. It ended gradually, then suddenly.

Continue Reading »

30 Dec 2021

Remembering Gerald Russello (1971–2021)

by Stephen Schmalhofer

Gerald Russello worked at the center of things and lived in the service of the permanent things.  Continue Reading »

11 Nov 2021

Why I Sued Governor Cuomo For the Right to Worship

by Nicholas DiMarzio

New York’s failure to recognize the importance of the Mass is plain wrong. Continue Reading »

24 Nov 2020

Give My Regards to New York

by Kari Jenson Gold

Even before de Blasio brought the place to her knees, New York had ceased to be as compelling. Continue Reading »

20 Oct 2020

Cultural Nihilism

by R. R. Reno

The decline in life expectancy in the United States is a symptom of a failing culture. It is driven by deaths of despair: Suicide rates are up, as are drug overdoses and alcohol-related diseases. Those are hard, cruel facts. There are other signs of failure, more auspicious ones. We read about young . . . . Continue Reading »

1 Jun 2019

Your First Things Community

by Ramona Tausz

In the midst of our atomized world, First Things offers a community—a place where you will find others eager to join you in opposing the chaos of contemporary life.  Continue Reading »

21 Dec 2017