Literary Criticism

"Writing only leads to more writing." — Colette

Every Ship Is a Passenger Too: On Publishing Today
Chris Molnar considers what it's like to be a writer today.
Chris MolnarMar 15, 2024
- Literary Criticism
- Memoir & Essay
Black Artists and the Logic of the Market: On Cord Jefferson’s “American Fiction”
Eskor David Johnson reviews Cord Jefferson’s film “American Fiction.”
Eskor David JohnsonMar 9, 2024
Rewriting (and Righting) History: On Alexander Manshel’s “Writing Backwards”
Andrew Koenig reviews Alexander Manshel’s “Writing Backwards: Historical Fiction and the Reshaping of the American Canon.”
Andrew KoenigFeb 28, 2024
- Literary Criticism
Hunger for the Whole: On Jacob Emery’s “The Vortex That Unites Us”
Caryl Emerson reviews Jacob Emery’s “The Vortex That Unites Us: Versions of Totality in Russian Literature.”
Caryl EmersonFeb 19, 2024
The Monstrosity of Feminist Art: A Conversation with Lauren Elkin
Tia Glista interviews Lauren Elkin about her new book “Art Monsters: Unruly Bodies in Feminist Art.”
Tia GlistaFeb 10, 2024
- Literary Criticism
- Nonfiction
Marjorie Perloff and the Joy of Poetry: On “Circling the Canon” and “Infrathin”
Jan Baetens uses Marjorie Perloff’s two latest books, “Circling the Canon: The Selected Book Reviews of Marjorie Perloff” and “Infrathin: An Experiment in Micropoetics,” to meditate on her long career as an advocate for innovative poetry.
Jan BaetensJan 13, 2024
- Literary Criticism
- Poetry
You’re Such a Character: The Knausgaard Behind Knausgaard
Bob Blaisdell examines the public life of autofiction icon Karl Ove Knausgaard.
Bob BlaisdellDec 30, 2023
Twins in Wonderland
Helena de Bres uses Tweedledee and Tweedledum as a lens onto twinhood.
Helena de BresDec 26, 2023
- Literary Criticism
- Young Adult & Children’s Literature
Am I Not Now at Peace? On Chris Bachelder and Jennifer Habel’s “Dayswork”
Alice Kelly reviews Chris Bachelder and Jennifer Habel’s “Dayswork.”
Alice KellyDec 16, 2023
- Fiction
- Literary Criticism
Fixing the Fuzzy Set? On Brian Attebery’s “Fantasy: How It Works”
Timothy S. Miller reviews Brian Attebery’s “Fantasy: How It Works.”
Timothy S. MillerDec 15, 2023
- Literary Criticism
- SF
To Walden: On Lawrence Buell’s “Henry David Thoreau” and Robert D. Richardson’s “Three Roads Back”
Todd Shy reviews Lawrence Buell’s “Henry David Thoreau: Thinking Disobediently” and Robert D. Richardson’s “Three Roads Back: How Emerson, Thoreau, and William James Responded to the Greatest Losses of Their Lives.”
Todd ShyNov 7, 2023
Coral Tongues: On Chang Yuchen’s “Coral Dictionary Vol. 1”
Maya Hayda reviews Chang Yuchen’s “Coral Dictionary Vol. 1: 2019–2022.”
Maya HaydaNov 4, 2023