Editor's Note

There’s abundant good news this week about Humanities Tennessee’s fundraising efforts in response to the DOGE cancellation of NEH grants. The outpouring of support from Ann Patchett’s $20 challenge has been extraordinary, with more than 1,000 contributors so far. The campaign continues through May 9. Meanwhile, other donors have made generous gifts, and the Mellon Foundation has stepped up to offer a lifeline to humanities councils across the country. Serious challenges remain, but this emergency funding will help all the councils stay afloat while the federal grant issue is resolved and they work to develop sources of ongoing support. 

This week at Chapter 16, we’re thrilled to offer an original essay by the site’s founding editor, Margaret Renkl. Her “Praise Song for Near Misses” is a paean to the terrifying moments that make us realize how precious and fragile life is. In new book coverage, Erica Wright reviews A Spell for Change, the latest fantasy novel by Nicole Jarvis, and Abby N. Lewis interviews Larry D. Thacker about his poetry collection New Red Words. 

News Roundup

• Alan Lightman wrote about the critical importance of academic freedom for The Atlantic, and the magazine also featured an excerpt from his forthcoming book with Martin Rees, The Shape of Wonder.

• A poem by Ishmael Reed was published in The New Yorker. 

• Dolen Perkins-Valdez was interviewed for The Broadside podcast.

• Linda Leaming was featured in a story at CNN Travel. 

• A poem by Sandy Solomon appeared in Narrative. 

• A poem by Linda Parsons was published in Plant-Human Quarterly, and she was interviewed for Speaking of Marvels.