Edward Snowden and the NSA – there has been no more riveting or consequential story in recent years. Much of the coverage has been reflexive and tendentious. In the June–July issue of ABR, James Der Derian reviews four books on the subject, including Luke Harding and Glenn Greenwald’s accounts of Snowden’s defection. Also, Neal Blewett reviews Bob Carr’s controversial diaries, and adds a twist of his own. Other contributors include Sheila Fitzpatrick, Bill Gammage, Jennifer Maiden, Richard Toye – and ABR Roving Blogger Fiona Gruber.

June–July 2014, no. 362

Tony Birch reviews Chris Flynn

Tony Birch

The Glass Kingdom offers readers a wild ride through a world of misfits, meth, and the shadowy recesses of society.

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The LRB of life writing

Ann-Marie Priest

Anne-Marie Priest finds much to enjoy in LRB's new anthology of life writing (Hilary Mantel, Andrew O'Hagan et al.), but wonders about the elastic definition of what constitutes a memoir.

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James Der Derian reviews 'The Snowden Files' by Luke Harding and 'No Place to Hide' by Glenn Greenwald

James Der Derian

1984 is back. George Orwell’s nightmare vision of governmental surveillance, secrecy, and deception clearly resonates with the revelations first leaked to the Guardian by former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden. Indeed, it is practically impossible to find an account of the Snowden affair without at least one ‘Orwellian’ adjective ...

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Neal Blewett reviews 'Diary of A Foreign Minister' by Bob Carr

Neal Blewett

‘Dear Dr Blewett, I am writing to you ... concerning your intention to publish the diary you kept during the first Keating Government ... Whether any legal action, criminal or civil, is initiated would be entirely a matter for the Commonwealth government and relevant authorities ...

June–July 2014, no. 362

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