Culture

illustration of two hands holding a copy of the book The Let Them Theory
Illustration by The Atlantic. Source: Stefanie Keenan / Getty.

Where Did ‘Let Them’ Come From?

Years before Mel Robbins published her best-selling self-help book, a struggling writer posted a poem with a similar message.

painting-style illustration of Joyce wearing brown hat, round wire spectacles, and brown suit, with golden halo-like circle around his head
Illustration by Gustavo Ramos. Source: Hulton Archive / Getty.

Yes I Will Read Ulysses Yes

How Richard Ellmann made James Joyce a hero to generations of readers and scholars

illustration with black-ink sketch of Mick Jagger singing into a mic on left and Clifton Chenier wearing crown and playing accordion on right, with 3 white circles on red background
Illustration by Jan Robert Dünnweller. Sources: Edd Westmacott / Alamy; Paul Natkin / Getty.

The Rolling Stones Play Zydeco

How the legendary rock band discovered the music of Clifton Chenier