Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

This week on nybooks.com: From the Review’s next issue, Timothy Snyder explains what’s happening in Ukraine, and Leila Seth challenges India’s criminalization of homosexuality. On the NYRblog, Alma Guillermoprieto looks at the strangely easy capture of a drug kingpin,Charles Simic ponders what we leave behind, and Ian Buruma reviews a Nazi soap opera. Plus film events and all our reviews of this year’s Oscar contenders.   THIS ISSUE SPONSORED BY UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT

Fascism, Russia, and Ukraine Timothy Snyder Ukraine is not a theater for the historical propaganda of others or a puzzle from which pieces can be removed. It is a major European country whose citizens have important cultural and economic ties with both the European Union and Russia.   ADVERTISEMENT   The Kingpin at Rest Alma Guillermoprieto In the end the best-known, and possibly even the most powerful of Mexico’s many, many drug traffickers was pretty much where he’d always been: in his home state of Sinaloa. He was found dozing peacefully in a plain seaside apartment.   What’s Left of My Books Charles Simic What happens to everything we kept in our heads and hoped others would find amusing after we pass away? No trace of them will be left, unless, of course, we write them down. Even that is not a guarantee.   ADVERTISEMENT   Normal Nazis Ian Buruma Millions of German and Austrian viewers thought the series Generation War was wonderful. So why has there been so much fuss about it, especially in Poland, where the filmmakers were accused of “falsifying history”?   India: You’re Criminal If Gay Leila Seth My son is now a criminal. This is because, like many millions of other Indians, he is gay.   Through Love’s Great Power Vikram Seth Through love’s great power to be made whole In mind and body, heart and soul— Through freedom to find joy, or be By dint of joy itself set free In love and in companionhood: This is the true and natural good. ...   Feb. 27: At the New York Public Library, Wes Anderson talks about his new film, based on the work of Stefan Zweig.   Ongoing: The UCLA Film Archive presents “Dark City, Open Country: The Films of Anthony Mann.”   The Oscars From American Hustle to Nebraska, 12 Years a Slave to Gravity and Blue Jasmine, reviews of eleven films that have been nominated for Academy Awards.