New YorkerestEssential reads from every New Yorker issue

January 18, 2010

The New Yorker cover for January 18, 2010: “Great Expectations,” by Frank Viva.

“Great Expectations,” by Frank Viva.

Featured Pick

profiles

Lines of Resistance

Calvin Tomkins

William Kentridge’s rough magic.

More picks from this issue

fiction

A Death in Kitchawank

T. Coraghessan Boyle

a reporter at large

A Risky Proposal

Margaret Talbot