One of the supreme fiction writers of the twentieth century, Nobel laureate Saul Bellow was also deeply insightful in his lesser-known roles as essayist, critic, and lecturer. Gathered together in this stunning compilation, Bellow’s vast range of nonfiction reveals the same wit, daring, and wisdom that distinguish , , and other masterly novels. In , as in the novels, the twentieth century comes fiercely to life through Bellow’s unrivaled human understanding and singular style. Benjamin Taylor, editor of the acclaimed , joins Bellow’s better-known essays to previously uncollected works selected from his criticism, interviews, speeches, and other reflections. Featuring Bellow’s commentary on such fellow writers as Ralph Ellison, Philip Roth, and J. D. Salinger, a remembrance of Franklin D. Roosevelt, dispatches from Paris, Spain, and Israel, and indelible portraits of his hometown, Chicago, this collection brings together writing from every phase of his career. is a guided tour of the twentieth century—what we did, suffered, survived—conducted by one of modern life’s most inspiring minds.