Literary Criticism

"Writing only leads to more writing." — Colette

The Slide Rule and the Crowbar: Henry David Thoreau in the Anthropocene
Daegan Miller reviews Robert M. Thorson’s “The Boatman: Henry David Thoreau’s River Years.”
Daegan MillerApr 23, 2017
Sages and Holy Fools
Richard Kearney on Jason M. Wirth's "Commiserating with Devastated Things: Milan Kundera and the Entitlements of Thinking."
Richard KearneyApr 22, 2017
- Literary Criticism
- Religion
“Literature with a Capital L”: On Arthur Krystal’s “This Thing We Call Literature”
Patrick Kurp appreciates the serious “sallies” of “This Thing We Call Literature” by Arthur Krystal.
Patrick KurpApr 22, 2017
- Literary Criticism
- Memoir & Essay
Between Philosophy and History: On Guido Mazzoni’s “Theory of the Novel”
Alberto Comparini delves into “Theory of the Novel” by Guido Mazzoni.
Alberto CompariniApr 15, 2017
A Safe Place
Heather Scott Partington on Yiyun Li's "Dear Friend, From My Life I Write To You in Your Life."
Heather Scott PartingtonApr 5, 2017
- Literary Criticism
- Memoir & Essay
How to Do Things with Genres
Marta Figlerowicz on André Jolles’s "Simple Forms."
Marta FiglerowiczMar 30, 2017
- Literary Criticism
- Philosophy & Religion
Totalitarianism, At Home and Abroad: Vaughn Rasberry’s “Race and the Totalitarian Century”
Andrew Lanham reviews Vaughn Rasberry’s “Race and the Totalitarian Century.”
Andrew LanhamMar 26, 2017
- History
- Literary Criticism
In Memoriam: Mark Fisher
Mark Fisher's fans, friends, and colleagues remember the author of "Capitalist Realism" and "The Weird and the Eerie."
Carl Freedman, Dan Hassler-Forest, Ellie Mae O’Hagan, Jeremy Gilbert, Roger LuckhurstMar 11, 2017
The Loneliness of the Gay Aesthete: Alan Hollinghurst and Queer Theory
Charlie Tyson on "Alan Hollinghurst: Writing Under the Influence," the new collection edited by Denis Flannery and Michèle Mendelssohn.
Charlie TysonMar 9, 2017
- Gender & Sexuality
- Literary Criticism
Masochism’s Gem-Like Flames
What did the Victorian era's aesthetic and psychosexual preoccupations produce? Len Gutkin on Claire Jarvis's "Exquisite Masochism."
Len GutkinMar 5, 2017
- Literary Criticism
Acknowledgment Is Not Enough: Coming to Terms With Lovecraft’s Horrors
Can we still enjoy Lovecraft? Alison Sperling on "The Age of Lovecraft."
Alison SperlingMar 4, 2017
- Literary Criticism
- SF
For When Nothing Happens: Peter Orner on Stories
Shaun Miller on Peter Orner's "Am I Alone Here?"
Shaun MillerFeb 17, 2017
- Literary Criticism
- Memoir & Essay