Literary Criticism

"Writing only leads to more writing." — Colette

The Open Presentness of Past Moments: On Gary Saul Morson’s “Wonder Confronts Certainty”
Bob Blaisdell reviews Gary Saul Morson’s “Wonder Confronts Certainty: Russian Writers on the Timeless Questions and Why Their Answers Matter.”
Bob BlaisdellMay 17, 2023
- Literary Criticism
The Work of the Audiobook
Alexander Manshel, Laura B. McGrath, and J. D. Porter discuss the economics and aesthetics of audiobooks.
Alexander Manshel, J. D. Porter, Laura B. McGrathMay 16, 2023
- Literary Criticism
On Excavating the Novel and “Toni Morrison: Sites of Memory”
Jasmine Liu visits Princeton University Library’s exhibition of Toni Morrison’s archive.
Jasmine LiuMay 6, 2023
- Literary Criticism
A Tale of Literary and Financial Debauchery: On Joel Warner’s “The Curse of the Marquis de Sade”
John Galbraith Simmons reviews Joel Warner’s “The Curse of the Marquis de Sade: A Notorious Scoundrel, a Mythical Manuscript, and the Biggest Scandal in Literary History.”
John Galbraith SimmonsApr 11, 2023
- Literary Criticism
Still at the Top of His Game: On Nicholas Delbanco’s “Why Writing Matters”
Nick Owchar examines Nicholas Delbanco’s 2020 book “Why Writing Matters” in the context of the author’s career.
Nick OwcharApr 1, 2023
- Literary Criticism
The Greeting Card as Poem: Frank Wilderson and the Refiguring of a Genre
Marjorie Perloff reads the Afropessimist author Frank Wilderson’s New Year’s cards as poetry.
Marjorie PerloffMar 30, 2023
- Literary Criticism
Marginality and Mahua Literature: On Li Zi Shu’s “The Age of Goodbyes” and Cheow Thia Chan’s “Malaysian Crossings”
Jeremy Tiang reviews Li Zi Shu’s “The Age of Goodbyes” and Cheow Thia Chan’s “Malaysian Crossings: Place and Language in the Worlding of Modern Chinese Literature.”
Jeremy TiangFeb 11, 2023
- Fiction
- Literary Criticism
The Half-Century in Bullshit: On Peter Bogdanovich’s “Paper Moon” and Robert Greene’s “The 48 Laws of Power”
Paul Thompson examines the metabolization of bullshit into our lives, by way of analyzing Peter Bogdanovich’s film “Paper Moon” and Robert Greene’s book “The 48 Laws of Power.”
Paul ThompsonJan 28, 2023
- Film
- Literary Criticism
Somewhat Nebulous Contours: On Sasha Senderovich’s “How the Soviet Jew Was Made”
Yelena Furman reviews Sasha Senderovich’s “How the Soviet Jew Was Made.”
Yelena FurmanJan 15, 2023
Fuck the Poetry Police: On the Index of Major Literary Prizes in the United States
Dan Sinykin breaks down the Post45 Data Collective set on literary awards compiled by Stephanie Young and Juliana Spahr.
Dan SinykinJan 9, 2023
Truths That Cannot Be Offered Outside of Art: On Stephen D. Dowden’s “Modernism and Mimesis”
William Collins Donahue reviews Stephen D. Dowden’s “Modernism and Mimesis.”
William Collins DonahueJan 5, 2023
- Literary Criticism
This Other’s Body: On the Durability of American Racial Satire
Matthew K. Ritchie draws parallels between Mohsin Hamid’s “The Last White Man” and “Black No More,” George Schuyler’s satire from 1931.
Matthew K. RitchieJan 2, 2023
- Literary Criticism
- Politics