Arts

Irving explores bisexuality in latest best seller

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NEW YORK - Author John Irving's latest book, "In One Person," is his most politically charged novel since his 1980s best sellers, "The Cider House Rules" and "A Prayer for Owen Meany."

Islamists must cement democracy, novelist says

PARIS - Islamist governments which were swept to power in the Arab Spring uprisings must ensure that democracy becomes firmly rooted across the region, novelist Amin Maalouf said on Friday.

Lifestyle 29 Jun 2012

Stolen Dali painting mailed back to New York gallery

NEW YORK - A Salvador Dali painting stolen last week from a New York City gallery was mailed back in pristine condition, police said on Friday.

29 Jun 2012

"Land of Decoration" wins Desmond Elliott novel prize

LONDON - Author Grace McCleen won the Desmond Elliott Prize for debut fiction published in Britain on Thursday for "The Land of Decoration," although she has already announced that her budding career as a writer is almost over.

Fashion, 28 Jun 2012

Washington museum shows War of 1812 not just "Star-Spangled Banner"

WASHINGTON - The War of 1812 may be the United States' forgotten conflict, but an unprecedented art museum exhibit shows that there was a lot more to it than the "The Star-Spangled Banner."

U.S., Ireland, Lifestyle 8:07am EDT

Art auction features top names at thrift store prices

NEW YORK - Contemporary art collectors will have a chance to shore up their holdings at relatively low prices next month when Christie's sells works by artists such as Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman and Gerhard Richter.

28 Jun 2012

Book Talk: Former Peace Corp volunteer finds Africa changed

NEW YORK - A former Peace Corps volunteer who views his time in Malawi in the 1960s as the highlight of his life goes back when his marriage falters, only to find the southern African country he remembers has unraveled through poverty and AIDS, or perhaps never existed.

People, 28 Jun 2012

Glitterati flock to Masterpiece London luxury fair

LONDON - The Masterpiece London art and luxury fair opened on Thursday showcasing jewelry, furniture and cars to throngs of the international super-rich seemingly immune to worries over a fragile global economy.

Lifestyle 28 Jun 2012

No "Scream" but plenty of darkness at UK Munch show

LONDON - How do you stage an Edvard Munch exhibition without featuring the work for which he is renowned the world over - "The Scream"?

Fashion, 27 Jun 2012

Art show riot reflects religious divide in new Tunisia

TUNIS - The artist agreed to be interviewed but asked not to be named. Picking up a piece of work vandalized by Islamist zealots at a recent arts fair in a suburb of Tunis, she said: "Don't describe it or people will know who I am."

Lifestyle, 27 Jun 2012

Erotic novel "Fifty Shades of Grey" breaks UK record

LONDON - E.L. James' erotic novel "Fifty Shades of Grey", dubbed "mummy porn" by the British media, has become the country's fastest paperback to reach one million sales, trade figures showed.