Literature

Dispiriting as it may be, great authors are capable of writing bad books

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s many passions included a view of Empire that would today be regarded as racist

Give up writing, men – the world will be a happier place when you do

The first episode of The Critic Books Podcast: in conversation with J. R. Thorp.

Gatsby aside, F. Scott Fitzgerald — the Jazz-Age chronicler — is dispensable

Although Hermione rarely names names or dishes dirt with quite the enthusiasm that her mother did, then she too has her tales to tell

When poetry is sold as nothing more inspiring than literary politics, is it any surprise the poetry shelves in Waterstones are so dusty?

Professor Jeremy Black rounds up the best autumnal reads that are successful in grounding a sense of place

Few writers do justice to food, but the exceptions are glorious, says Felipe Fernández-Armesto

Why are publishers so sniffy about stocking fillers?