Paul McDonald,"Heard the one about the oldest joke in the world? It's a cracker!" Independent, 19 December, asks"What is it about old jokes?"

Bob Blaisdell reviews Ian Davidson's Voltaire: A Life for the CSM, 17 December.

Michiko Kakutani,"A Marriage That Defied Separation and War," NYT, 20 December, reviews Joseph Ellis's First Family: Abigail and John Adams. Pauline Meier,"Justice Breyer's Sharp Aim," NYT, 21 December, argues that James Madison would have no problem with state or local gun control ordinances.

Manisha Sinha,"South Carolina's Secession at 150," Huffington Post, 20 December, marks the 150th anniversary. Blain Roberts and Ethan J. Kytle,"Dancing Around History," Opinionator, 21 December, look at Charleston's celebration of the anniversary. Emily Badger,"Of Course the Civil War Was About Slavery," Miller/McCune, 20 December, talks with historians about the reason for secession and the war. Paul Finkelman,"States' Rights, but to What?" Opinionator, 20 December, probes claims for the rights of states.

Hillary Kelly,"The Missing Subject," The Book, 21 December, reviews Susan Cheever's Louisa May Alcott: A Personal Biography.

Finally, farewell to Jacqueline de Romilly, the distinguished French classicist.