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Commentary
Since 1980 Mark Helprin has published commentaries on many themes. His articles address politics, aesthetics, and culture. The following pages provide a partial list of these articles. The links to “On Politics” are divided into four sections for easier browsing. The “On, Against, For” link contains a list of essays on art, culture, beauty, and our common humanity. For convenience an Acrobat PDF file gathering all of the listings in one document can be downloaded from this page. A comprehensive publications list can be downloaded from the Biography page.
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On Politics: 2002-date
"The Literary Tenor of the Times." The Claremont Review of Books, Winter 2006/07: Vol. 7:1
"The Worst Generation Faces the Greatest Peril." The Claremont Review of Books, Fall 2006: Vol. 6:4.
"The War in Lebanon." The Claremont Review of Books, Fall 2006: Vol. 6:4
"The Unvarnished Immigration Debate." The Washington Post, 21 May 2006: b7.
"After Diplomacy Fails." The Washington Post, 13 April 2006: a21.
"Constitution or Tyranny." The Claremont Review of Books, Spring 2006: Vol. 6:2.
"The Democratic Peace." The Claremont Review of Books, Winter 2005/2006: Vol. 6:1
"Herd Animals." The Claremont Review of Books, Fall 2005: Vol. 5:4.
“They Are All So Wrong.” Wall Street Journal, 9 September 2005: a16.
“Our Blindness.” Wall Street Journal, 24 January 2005: a18.
“Beyond the Rim.” Wall Street Journal, 13 December 2004: a16.
“Let Us Count the Ways: To Win the War on Terrorism.” Claremont Review of Books, Fall 2004: 6-10.
“Three Years On.” Wall Street Journal, 10 September 2004: a12.
“Two Accusations, Rebutted.” National Review, 28 June 2004: 29-30.
“No Way to Run a War.” Wall Street Journal, 17 May 2004: a20.
“War In the Absence of Strategic Clarity.” Claremont Review of Books, 26 August 2003: 6-8.
“Analyze This.” National Review, 5 May 2003: 34-36.
“Defend Civilization Itself.” Imprimis, July 2002.
“Phony War.” National Review, 22 April 2002: 29.
“Coup de Boutoir.” National Review Online, 16 April 2002.
“Failing the Test of September 11.” Wall Street Journal, 16 September 2002: a14.
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On Politics: 1998 - 2001
“What Israel Must Now Do to Survive.” Commentary, November 2001: 25-29.
“What to Do in Afghanistan, and Why.” Wall Street Journal, 3 October 2001: a22.
“We Beat Hitler, We Can Vanquish This Foe Too.” Wall Street Journal, 12 September 2001: a18.
“The Fire Next Time.” Wall Street Journal, 24 April 2001: a24.
“A Way Out of the Wilderness.” Imprimus, January 2001.
“If Bush Wins, Probity Must Win As Well“. OpinionJournal.com, 7 November 2000.
“Renaissance of the Homeless.” OpinionJournal.com, 31 October 2000.
“Tactical Illumination, Middle East.” OpinionJournal.com, 24 October 2000.
“Memos from POTUS.” OpinionJournal.com, 17 October 2000.
“Mr. Clinton’s Army.” Wall Street Journal, 10 October 2000: a26.
“Riderless Horse.” OpinionJournal.com, 3 October 2000.
“New South, New Symbol.” OpinionJournal.com, 26 September 2000.
“Terrorism in the New Century.” OpinionJournal.com, 19 September 2000.
“Touched With Fire.” OpinionJournal.com, 12 September 2000.
“A Compromise on Guns.” OpinionJournal.com, 5 September 2000.
“The Internet’s Inventor Speaks to the VFW.” OpinionJournal.com, 29 August 2000.
“The Death of the Kursk.” OpinionJournal.com, 22 August 2000.
“Democrats’ Dangerous Weakness.” OpinionJournal.com, 15 August 2000.
“A Question for George W. Bush.” OpinionJournal.com, 8 August 2000.
“Defense of the Realm.” Wall Street Journal, 1 August 2000: a23.
“East Wind.” National Review, 20March 2000: 36-43.
“The Uses of Honor.” Wall Street Journal, (6 March 2000: a30.
“Cape and Sword.” Wall Street Journal, 17 December 1999: a14.
“A Fog that Descends from Above.” National Review, 3 May 1999: 41-44.
“The Lesson of the Century.” American Heritage, February/March 1999: 19 (2 pages).
“The War of the Lights.” National Review, 22 February 1999: 34.
“The Soldiers of Calais.” Wall Street Journal, 16 February 1999: a22.
“The Millennium–Getting and Spending.” Wall Street Journal, 11 January 1999: r54.
“As the Military Dissolves.” The American Outlook, Winter 1998. [fusion of essays from www.intellectualcapital.com]
“To the Wavering Republicans.” Wall Street Journal, 11 December 1998: a14.
“God's Eye View.” Forbes ASAP, 30 November 1998: 121.
“A Marshall Plan for Russia.” Wall Street Journal, 9 September 1998: a22.
“My Dear Mr. President.” Wall Street Journal, 25 August 1998: a14.
“Turbulence.” The Jerusalem Report, May 1998: 16.
“Statesmanship and its Betrayal.” Imprimis, April 1998: 1-5.
“Revolution or Dissolution?” Forbes ASAP, 24 February 1998: 87 (16 pages).
“The War of Lights.” National Review, 22 February 1998: 34 (5 pages).
“Even Houdini.” Wall Street Journal, 23 January 1998: a16.
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On Politics: 1992-1997
“On The Future of Conservatism.” [Contributor] Commentary, February1997: 27-28.
“Saddam Hussein's Day Off.” Wall Street Journal, 26 November 1997: a14.
“Impeach.” Wall Street Journal, 10 October 1997: a22.
“Crimson Tide. Wall Street Journal, 17 March 1997: a18.
“To Fight for Principle.” Wall Street Journal, 15 January 1997: a16.
“Table of Inflation.” (Poem) Wall Street Journal, 29 November 1996: a6.
“Mr. Clinton's Foreign Policy.” Wall Street Journal, 12 August 1996: a10.
A Spinner of Myths.” Newsweek, 27 May 1996: 37.
“Mr. Vistica's Navy.” Weekly Standard, 25 March 1996: 30-33.
“The Defense of Taiwan.” Wall Street Journal, 7 March 1996: a20.
“GOP Should Beware This Bomb.” Wall Street Journal, 28 February 1996: a15.
“Let Dole Lead.” Wall Street Journal, 2February 1996: a10.
“For A New Concert of Europe.” Commentary, January 1996: 30-46.
“Enchantment in Statist Economics.” Wall Street Journal, 15 January 1996: a12.
“Diversity is Not a Virtue.” In Reinventing The American People: Unity And Diversity Today, ed. Robert Royal (Ethics And Public Policy Center; William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1995), 71-75.
“The National Prospect: a Symposium.” (Contributor) Commentary, November 1995: 23 (3 pages).
“What To Do About Terrorism, Really.” Wall Street Journal, 10 May 1995: a14.
“To the New Congressional Majority.” Wall Street Journal, 3 January 1995: a8.
“Diversity is Not a Virtue.” Wall Street Journal, (25 November 1994: a8.
“A Soldier of the Not Great War.” Wall Street Journal, 20 September 1994: a22.
“My Brilliant Korea.” Wall Street Journal, 25July 1994: a14.
“ School for Scandal.” Wall Street Journal, 25 March 1994: a8.
“Stay Out of Bosnia.” Wall Street Journal, 9September 1993: a20.
“Rodney Dangerfield Meets I-601.” Wall Street Journal, 9 July 1993. [unsigned editorial]
“Military Reality in Yugoslavia.” Wall Street Journal, 6 May 1993: a10.
“My Wife as Attorney General. ” Wall Street Journal, (9 February 1993: a16.
“At Rest Between the Wars.” The Congressional Record, 28 January 1993: S881-S885. [speech originally delivered at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, October 15, 1992]
“The Way Out of the Wilderness.” Wall Street Journal, 11 November 1992: a10.
“Why Bush Will Win.” Wall Street Journal, 27 October 1992: a16.
“I Dodged The Draft, and I Was Wrong.” Wall Street Journal, 16 October 1992: a14.
“I Dodged The Draft and I Was Wrong.” Human Events, 3 October 1992: 14.
“Of Conventions and Courage.” Wall Street Journal, 19 August 1992: a12.
“Green Eggs and Ham.” Wall Street Journal, 27 April 1992. [unsigned editorial]
“Baker Should Resign.” Wall Street Journal, 15 April 1992: a20.
“Mr. Dooley on New Hampshire.” Wall Street Journal, 18 February 1992: a20.
“This Cease-fire in Yugoslavia Has A Better Shot.” Wall Street Journal, 15 January 1992: a12.
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On Politics: 1980 - 1991
“The Power of Russia Alone.” Wall Street Journal, 27 December 1991: a10.
“Inspectors vs. Epicures.” Wall Street Journal, 11 November 1991. [unsigned editorial]
“A Palestinian State With Full Israeli Security.” Wall Street Journal, 26 September 1991: a18.
“The Battle Won, The War Lost.” Wall Street Journal, 3 July 1991: a6.
“Europe Hasn't Seen The End Of War.” Wall Street Journal, 31 May 1991: a12.
“The One Great Lesson of The War.” Wall Street Journal, 26 February 1991: a14.
“Strategy for a Ground Attack.” Wall Street Journal, 18 January 1991: a8.
“Iraq: A Military Analysis.” Wall Street Journal, 7 December 1990: a14.
“Washington Lays a Budget Egg.” Wall Street Journal, 23 October 1990: a18.
“The Gulf as Prelude to a Soviet Coup.” Wall Street Journal, 2 October 1990: a26.
“Notice To Iraq: Hostage-taking is a War Crime.” Wall Street Journal, 23 August 1990: a14.
“Saddam In The Shadow of His Undoing.” Wall Street Journal, 6 August 1990: a12
“A Single Bullet.” Wall Street Journal, 12 January 1990: a12.
“The Russian Reformation.” Wall Street Journal, (28 April 1989: a14.
“Hypnotist Gorbachev Conjures an Arms Reduction.” Wall Street Journal, 13 December 1988: a20.
“War In Europe: Thinking the Unthinkable.” Wall Street Journal, 1 November 1988: a28.
“Dukakis and Deweyism.” Wall Street Journal, 1 August 1988: a16.
“American Jews and Israel: A Symposium.” [Contributor] Commentary, February 1988.
“The Imperial Congress.” Wall Street Journal, 9 April 1987: a32.
“Is Separate Stronger?” The New York Times Book Review, 9 November 1986: 11.
“Harvard's Point of Order.” Wall Street Journal, 12 March 1986: a34.
“The Centipede Primps for Geneva.” Wall Street Journal, 18 November 1985.
“Making Sense of Intelligence.” Wall Street Journal, 7 November 1985.
“Italy's No Less an Ally for Having Let Abbas Go.” Wall Street Journal, 17 October 1985.
“America as Hostage: Lessons from Iran.” Wall Street Journal, 1 July 1985.
“The Middle East: Polemic in a Peanut Shell.” Wall Street Journal, 15 April 1985.
“Drawing The Line In Europe: The Case For Missile Deployment.” New York Times Magazine, 4 December 1983: 52-64.
“American Jews & Israel: Seizing a New Opportunity.” The New York Times Magazine, 7 October 1982.
“What Transit Strike?” The New York Times, 21 March 1980.
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On, Against, For
Essays on Art, Culture,
Literature, and Human Life
"A Great Idea Lives Forever: Shouldn't Its Copyright?" The New York Times. May 20, 2007.
"The Literary Tenor of the Times." The Claremont Review of Books. Winter 2006/07: Vol. 7:1.
“Take My Advice.” In Take My Advice: Letters to the Next Generation From People Who Know a Thing or Two, ed. James L. Harmon (Simon and Schuster, 2002), 23.
“Lament for Paper and Ink.” OpinionJournal.com, 28 July 2000.
“Contrivance.” Forbes ASAP, 4 October 1999: 244-250.
“God's Eye View.” Forbes ASAP, 30 November 1998: 121.
“God is . . . like the linnet. . . .” In How Can I Find God? ed. James Martin (Triumph Books, 1997), 64.
“The Rivers of Babylon, and Gulnare of the Sea.” Introduction to The Arabian Nights, (ed. Kate Douglas Wiggin and Nora A. Smith (Book of the Month Club, 1996), vii-xiii.
“The Acceleration of Tranquility.” Forbes ASAP, 2 December 1996: 14 (7 pages).
“Helprin and I.” In Who's Writing This? Notations on the Authorial I, With Self Portraits, ed. Daniel Halpern (The Ecco Press, 1995), 82-84.
“Lucas.” Introduction to Only Spring: On Mourning the Death of my Son, by Gordon Livingston (Harper, 1995), xi-xv.
“In Appreciation of Edward Schmidt.” The Classicist, 1994-1995: 73-76.
“Melville: The Uses of Oblivion.” Introduction to Moby Dick, by Herman Melville(Barnes & Noble special edition, 1994), xi-xvi.
“Diversity is Not a Virtue.” Wall Street Journal, (25 November 1994: a8. (
“Against The Dehumanization of Art.” New Criterion, September 1994: 91 (4 pages).
“Modernism and Fascism: Sleeping With the Enemy.” The Washington Post, 29 May 1994: g4. [abridgment of “Against the Dehumanization of Art”]
“The Arcadian Lyricism of Edward Schmidt.” American Arts Quarterly, Spring 1993. [unauthorized abridgement of “In Appreciation of Edward Schmidt”]
“City of Sunlight and Shadow.” In Manhattan Lightscape: Photographs by Nathaniel Lieberman (Abbeville Press, 1990), 7-11.
“The True Builders of Cities.” In Visionary San Francisco, ed. Paolo Polledri (San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art; Prestel, 1990), 105-107.
“San Francisco, 1969.” Harper's Magazine, October 1990: 32 (2 pages). [excerpt from “The True Builders of Cities”]
“View of the Hudson.” In Favorite Places, ed. Frances Kiernan(American Express Publishing, 1989), 76-79.
“The Canon under Siege.” The New Criterion, September 1988: 33-40.
“Liberty Enlightening the World.” In The Annals of America (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1987), 507-510.
“On Mistaking Cultural Institutions for Culture.” The New Criterion, Summer 1986: 20-21.
“How The City Shapes Its Writers: Brooklyn's Comforting Infinitude.” The New York Times Magazine, 28 April 1985: 62.
“A Christmas Past.” The New York Times, 21 December 1983: c1.
“An Apparition of the Villa Doria Pamphilli.” The New Criterion, November 1983: 34-38.
“My Father’s Life.” Esquire, March 1983: 90 (3 pages).
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Intro