Michael Dirda

With the publication of “The Rose Field,” I revisited the His Dark Materials series, a magical journey by a master whose fantastical saga sheds light on the human condition.

Antonia Fraser’s ‘The Pleasure of Reading,’ which features the desert island picks of prominent British writers, inspired me to pick my own

On the 50th anniversary of Natalie Babbitt’s novel, I finally finished the book and have a whole new appreciation for the author and work

“The Rose of Tibet” by Lionel Davidson is an unsung classic of the genre. It’s up there with “Treasure Island,” “The Scarlet Pimpernel” and “The Princess Bride.”

Trying to control what kids read is a fool’s errand. Like Comstockery and Prohibition, it aims to make human beings into little saints. Ain’t never gonna happen.

Richard Ellmann’s “James Joyce” is a classic of literary biography. In “Ellmann’s Joyce,” Zachary Leader delves into the biography and its distinguished creator.

Ron Chernow’s sweeping new biography explores how the “Huckleberry Finn” author became such a fixture in American literature and life, despite his failings

The Washington Post’s longtime book critic Michael Dirda took a break from reading, then delved into some favorites and new titles

The best obituaries, those that are most enjoyable to read, juxtapose obvious public accomplishments with the sheer strangeness of people’s lives.

The new book “El Cid: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Mercenary” delves into the truths and misunderstandings about the legendary knight.