General Motors' last tango in Paris

The automaker has struggled to make gains in Europe and now it's contemplating an alliance with Peugeot. The odds are long -- and here's why.

By Doron Levin, contributor

FORTUNE -- The alliance between PSA Peugeot Citroen and General Motors currently being mulled by both companies may prove marginally beneficial. But, it is unlikely to solve each auto maker's deep economic and financial troubles in Europe. And for the American side of MORE

Winter tomatoes … from Maine?

FORTUNE -- Scientists worried about the stress put on farmland by a booming population see new promise in growing greenhouse vegetables hydroponically -- the centuries-old practice of cultivating plants in nutrient-rich water instead of soil. Maine's Backyard Farms, the largest producer in New England, delivers tomatoes to stores just hours after they are picked -- even during the snows of February. The company, whose farm spans 42 acres, says it MORE

The Ups and Downs of the Fuller Brush Co. (Fortune, 1938)

Editor's note: Every Sunday, Fortune publishes a favorite story from our magazine archives. This week we turn to a story from 1938, which chronicles the highs and lows of the Fuller Brush Co. The Great Bend, Kan.-based cleaning-products maker was founded in 1906 and became known for its door-to-door salesmen, who belted the  familiar greeting, "I'm your Fuller Brush Man." Earlier this week, Fuller Brush filed for bankruptcy less than two MORE

Can journalists really tell the 'truth?'

Our Weekly Read column features Fortune staffers' and contributors' takes on recently published books about the business world and beyond. We've invited the entire Fortune family -- from our writers and editors to our photo editors and designers -- to weigh in on books of their choosing based on their individual tastes or curiosities. In this installment, reporter Daniel Roberts reviews The Lifespan of a Fact, an argument on truth in journalism MORE

China after Marx: Open for business? (Fortune, 1985)

Editor's note: Every Sunday, Fortune publishes a favorite story from our magazine archives. This week we turn to a cover story from 1985, when a Communist newspaper declared Karl Marx irrelevant to China's plans for economic expansion. Today, 27 years later, many U.S. businesses are thriving in China but the relationship between the U.S. and China is not without strife. China vice president Xi Jinping, who is expected to become the MORE

Murder he wrote

Our Weekly Read column features Fortune staffers' and contributors' takes on recently published books about the business world and beyond. We've invited the entire Fortune family -- from our writers and editors to our photo editors and designers -- to weigh in on books of their choosing based on their individual tastes or curiosities. In this installment, assistant managing editor Nicholas Varchaver reviews Raymond Bonner's Anatomy of Injustice: A Murder MORE

The indicator car makers should be ecstatic about

Forget the unemployment rate or household debt. Forecasters look to a much more important figure that tells them when they are going to sell more vehicles.

By Doron Levin, contributor

FORTUNE -- Memory is tricky. A new car recalled from youth always seems cheaper and more affordable than the new, higher-priced models of today. Until, that is, you take into account that we weren't earning much in those days anyway.

In terms of MORE

Massif's army chic for men

FORTUNE -- An Army outfitter that makes fire-resistant shirts for U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan is launching a clothing line with a different target market: urban weekend warriors. Massif, based in Ashland, Ore., made its first foray into high fashion in January, debuting 33 designs at the Pitti Uomo show in Florence. The clothes retain a buttoned-up military style, are loaded with utility pockets, and use fabrics that are stretchy, water MORE

The etiquette of divorce

A new how-to book offers legal advice on how to get through your divorce with maximum dispatch and minimal damage to children.

By Roger Parloff, senior editor

FORTUNE -- Since 1789 the Debrett's publishing house, which describes itself as "Britain's leading experts on manners and behaviour," has been offering authoritative guides on how to handle life's social curveballs with tact, breeding, and aplomb.

Now it has addressed one of life's high, inside fastballs: MORE

Luxury travel just got a little bit cheaper

Portico, a new luxury travel service from Steve Case's Exclusive Resorts, aims to accommodate travelers who want a luxury vacation but don't want to pay so much for it.

By Caitlin Keating, reporter

FORTUNE -- Luxury travel is going downstream. Exclusive Resorts, a high-end travel company owned by Steve Case, is launching Portico, a new private club that lets members access luxury vacation properties at more moderate prices than they otherwise could.

With MORE