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JEFFREY ADLER, professor of history and criminology, traces racial violence in American law enforcement from the early 20th-century South to the present. Adler emphasizes that both the view that police violence has remained unchanged since slavery and the belief that it is a recent phenomenon are inaccurate. Drawing on archival sources, Adler reveals the emergence of racialized police brutality alongside state oppression in the 1930s and 1940s, particularly in New Orleans. The narrative explores the justification of systemic violence against Black individuals as essential for maintaining order, shedding light on the enduring legacy of Jim Crow policing and its impact on contemporary police abuses.

KRISTIN ALLUKIAN (PhD Philosophy ’14) enriches scholarship on slavery and capitalism. Drawing from prominent 19th-century American women writers, such as Harriet Beecher Stowe and Harriet Jacobs, Allukian contends that women’s literature offers distinct economic insights into how slavery and capitalism intersect. By diverging from conventional economic histories and exploring critical theories found in literary works, Allukian emphasizes the essential role of women’s narratives in shaping our understanding of America’s capitalist economy driven by slavery.

Edited by Professor of French and Film SYLVIE EVE BLUM-REID, this book explores the contributions of women artists and writers in Paris during the Interwar Years, from the 1920s to 1940. Through interdisciplinary lenses, it revisits their experiences in an experimental society amid political changes. This project, inspired by Shari Benstock’s “Women of the Left Bank” and Andrea Weiss’ “Paris Was a Woman,” compiles insightful essays that showcase the vibrant community of women during this transformative era of Parisian cultural history.

Martin Behrman, a dominant figure in early 20th-century New Orleans politics, served as mayor from 1904 to 1920 and briefly in 1925. Alumnus ERIC CRISS (BA Political Science ’91) sheds light on Behrman’s overlooked tenure. Combining machine politics with progressive reform and populism, his governance influenced Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal and Huey Long’s strategies. Despite modernizing the city and managing crises, Behrman’s era also witnessed the disenfranchisement of Black voters, a troubling aspect of an otherwise progressive period in New Orleans history.

Closing a significant gap in medieval research, Medieval History and Archaeology Professor FLORIN CURTA pioneers a compilation of primary sources in English translation. Covering the period from 500 to 1300, Curta presents a diverse range of historical documents from Eastern Europe, including chronicles, treaties, charters, letters, and legal texts. Organized thematically and chronologically, the sources explore political, religious, economic, social, and cultural aspects, offering invaluable insights into the often-overlooked history of this region.

LUPITA EYDE-TUCKER (MFA Poetry ’23), an alumna and UF’s Center for Teaching Excellence Online Course Design Specialist, translates Oriette D’Angelo’s debut poetry collection from Spanish to English, shedding light on Venezuela’s societal challenges while inspiring resilience and hope. Eyde-Tucker aims to translate politically grounded poetry from underrepresented countries, capturing the urgency and imagery of D’Angelo’s work to offer an impactful portrayal of contemporary Venezuela’s struggles and enduring spirit.

Albert Brick Professor PAMELA K. GILBERT offers a groundbreaking analysis of British literature in the 1860s, with contributions from renowned scholars. It delves into key genres such as sensation fiction and Golden Age children’s literature, addressing themes such as empire, slavery, evolution, and economics. The book explores drama, poetry, and fiction, highlighting the significance of publishing and periodicals. Each chapter considers the global context, including Irish theater and Bengali literature, and Britain’s response to the U.S. Civil War.

Assistant Professor of Religion and Jewish Studies and Bud Shorstein Fellow RACHEL GORDAN analyzes the post World War II era for American Jews, exploring their journey from marginalization to societal acceptance. This book delves into how positive Jewish portrayals in books challenged antisemitic stereotypes and popularized Judaism as an American religion. These narratives emphasized Judaism’s unique qualities within the Judeo-Christian framework, fostering new Jewish confidence and identity formation. Gordan’s research draws from archives and bestsellers to illuminate this crucial aspect of American Jewish history.

Professors VICTORIA PAGÁN and JUDITH PAGE explore gardens’ profound impact on built and natural environments through landscape architecture, literature, art, and more. Each chapter emphasizes collaboration, from early 20th-century garden clubs as models of women’s leadership to intimate family partnerships and artist-subject relationships. Women play key roles as gardeners, designers, writers, and subjects, challenging traditional assumptions. The book showcases how gardens shape human existence through various media like manuscripts and paintings.

In a comedic critique of Hollywood, toxic fandom, and online culture, JUSTIN TAYLOR (BA English ’04) follows the journey of David Crader, a washed-up actor from a cult TV show, as he tries to revive his career and life. Summoned by his ex-wife and former co-star, David sees an opportunity for redemption by rebooting his old show. However, Hollywood, the internet, and societal issues have other plans, forcing him to confront his past and the chaotic world around him. This madcap comedy explores themes of nostalgia, identity, and the consequences of our online lives.

Assistant Professor of Political Science ZHIYUAN WANG investigates how countries can safeguard their policy autonomy amid global influences. Wang’s theory suggests that states adopt politically acceptable alternatives to unwanted globalized policies. Studying bilateral investment treaties, trade agreements, taxation, and central bank independence, he offers quantitative and qualitative evidence for this perspective. The outcome is a thorough and systematic examination of the concept of policy substitution and its implications within the context of globalization.