Bernard-Henri Lévy Fever: Catch It

Travel Blog • Jim Benning • 01.26.06 | 10:10 AM ET

Last Thursday, we blogged about French philosopher-journalist Bernard-Henri Lévy and his new book, American Vertigo: Traveling America in the Footsteps of Tocqueville. Since then, it seems that BHL Fever has spread faster than a winter flu. This week, writers have been busy pondering his merits. Is Lévy a Tocqueville for our time or a hack? Is he a rock-star writer or an ego with a pen? On Slate.com, “How Soccer Explains the World” author Franklin Foer has been debating the topic with Boston College professor Alan Wolfe. (“You have to admire BHL for—pardon my French—his chutzpah,” Wolfe writes.) Alex Beam devoted a column to Lévy in the Boston Globe. (“I can’t take Levy seriously at all.”)

Meanwhile, like any celebrity writer worth his salt, Lévy is scheduled to appear on The Daily Show tonight, which he should enjoy, since he recently told New York Magazine, “Jon Stewart for me is the best.” And on Sunday, he’s scheduled to appear on C-SPAN2’s Book TV.