Andrew Higgins,"Professor Hired for Outreach to Muslims Delivers a Jolt," WSJ, 15 November, reports the story of Muhammad Sven Kalisch. He was hired to teach Islamic Studies at Münster University and his doubts about the existence of the historical Muhammad are causing a stir in Germany. Hat tip.

Roger Atwood,"Fool's Gold," Washington Post, 16 November, reviews Sharon Waxman's Loot: The Battle Over the Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World and Nina Burleigh's Unholy Business: A True Tale of Faith, Greed, and Forgery in the Holy Land.

Art Winslow reviews John Demos's The Enemy Within: 2,000 Years of Witch-hunting in the Western World for the Chicago Tribune, 15 November.

David Brown,"16th-Century Mapmaker's Intriguing Knowledge," Washington Post, 17 November, explores what Martin Waldseemueller knew about the contours of the trans-Atlantic world.

Karl E. Meyer,"The Gift of Governance," Washington Post, 16 November, reviews Piers Brendon's The Decline and Fall of the British Empire, 1781-1997.

Andrew Cayton,"The Presidency That Roared," NYT, 14 November, reviews Jon Meacham's American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House.

Nicolaus Mills,"Beauty and Justice: Van Gogh at the MoMA," Dissent, 13 November, reviews"Van Gogh and the Colors of the Night," an exhibit at Manhattan's Museum of Modern Art.

Steven Hahn,"The Discovery of Pride," TNR, 19 November, reviews Colin Grant's Negro with a Hat: The Rise and Fall of Marcus Garvey. Hat tip.

Sarah Boxer,"The Exile's Palette," NYT, 14 November, reviews Jackie Wullschlager's Chagall: A Biography.

Jonathan Yardley reviews Thomas J. Sugrue's Sweet Land of Liberty: The Forgotten Struggle for Civil Rights in the North for the Washington Post, 16 November.

Adam Harrison Levy,"Hiroshima: The Lost Photographs," Design Observer, 10 November, tells a story of memory repressed and photographs rediscovered. Hat tip.

Graydon Carter,"Lucky George," NYT, 16 November, reviews Nelson W. Aldrich, Jr., ed., George Being George: George Plimpton's Life as Told, Admired, Deplored, and Envied by 200 Friends, Relatives, Lovers, Acquaintances, Rivals — and a Few Unappreciative Observers.