Katharine Graham's Washington (Knopf, 624 pages, $30)

Billed as "a huge, rich gathering of articles, memoirs, humor, and history chosen by Mrs. Graham, that brings to life her beloved city," this is an almost bottomless cornucopia of writings about the capital, which the publisher and CEO of The Washington Post collected and brought together after the vast and deserved success of her autobiography, Personal History. When she died, in July 2001, it was near completion. She had chosen texts -- with help from her aides and editor -- and had written introductions to the main sections of the book -- an overview, society, events, visitors, the capital at war, etc. She also left notes to go with many of the more than 100 individual pieces. Virtually everything here is eminently readable, but since this is a well-organized and annotated anthology, it's fair enough to pick and choose. Delightful, informative, often moving stuff.