This Week’s Issue: Was Jeanne Calment the Oldest Person Who Ever Lived—or a Fraud?

Plus: Yuval Noah Harari’s history of everyone, ever; the controversy over slavery reënactments; and Zoë Kravitz in “High Fidelity.” View in browser | Update your preferences Letter from Arles Was Jeanne Calment the Oldest Person Who Ever Lived—or a Fraud? Some researchers have cast doubt on the record of the celebrated supercentenarian. By Lauren Collins Profiles Yuval Noah Harari’s History of Everyone, Ever His blockbuster “Sapiens” predicted the possible end of humankind. Now what? By Ian Parker Annals of Nature Can Farming Make Space for Nature? After Brexit, the obsessions of Jake Fiennes could change how Britain uses its land. By Sam Knight American Chronicles Can Slavery Reënactments Set Us Free? Underground Railroad simulations have ignited controversy about whether they confront the country’s darkest history or trivialize its gravest traumas. By Julian Lucas Comment What Matters Most in the Battle Between Trump and Pelosi The Speaker’s willingness to get in the President’s face has made many a meme, but their conflict has more to say about our constitutional checks and balances. By Steve Coll On Television “High Fidelity” and “Party of Five” Reboot Nineties Landmarks Hulu’s show, starring Zoë Kravitz, is look-book television, while the Freeform series is unexpectedly moving. By Doreen St. Félix Books When Historical Fiction Goes Magical The novelist Daniel Kehlmann evokes an era of doctrinal fervor—and brings to life a mythical trickster. By James Wood Newsletters Sign Up for the New Yorker Recommends Newsletter Discover what our staff is reading, watching, and listening to each week. Humor from The New Yorker Shouts & Murmurs To My Relatives Please help yourself to my suits. You will notice that the suit pants are size Extra Extra Large, while the suit jackets are size Extra Tiny. By Jack Handey Cartoons From The Issue Cartoons from the February 17 & 24, 2020, Issue Drawings and drollery from this week’s magazine. Sign up for more newsletters from The New Yorker. Visit The New Yorker shop. Question about your subscription? Contact Customer Care. New Yorker digital subscribers get unlimited access to everything on newyorker.com. Log in to your account here. We’d love your feedback on this newsletter. Please send your thoughts and suggestions to TNYinbox@newyorker.com. This e-mail was sent to you by The New Yorker. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, NewYorker@newsletters.newyorker.com, to your address book. View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2020. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.