Literary Review covers all the latest books each month, ranging from history and biography to memoir and fiction. Each issue contains sixty-four pages of reviews from some of the leading authors, journalists, academics and thinkers in Britain in a variety of fields. It aims to reach a wide audience of readers who enjoy intelligent and accessible writing.
The magazine is available for purchase in most good bookshops and newsagents. Subscribers receive eleven issues a year (including a December/January double issue) and gain access to the magazine’s digital archive, available on this site. To view the subscription rates, click here.
Subscribers also gain access to the Literary Review app, which includes the digital archive. To take advantage of this, visit Exact Editions and enter your subscription number and postcode, which will prompt you to create an account.
“Literary Review is extremely informative, well-written and altogether enjoyable.
It is my favourite monthly magazine.” – Muriel Spark
“This magazine is flush with tight, smart writing.” – Washington Post
Literary Review was founded in Edinburgh in 1979 by Dr Anne Smith, head of the English Department at Edinburgh University. She wanted to create a lively, intelligent literary magazine for people who love reading but shudder at academic and intellectual jargon.
From the start, Literary Review plugged in to the best and most exciting current writing. The reviewers are usually authors themselves, not just critics. In the 1980s, Auberon Waugh became editor. For fourteen years Waugh led the magazine and gave it the high profile it has today, including bringing on board Willie Rushton as cover illustrator. Nancy Sladek has edited the magazine for the last fifteen years and in 2015 was awarded the prestigious Benson Medal for outstanding services to English literature.
The iconic covers have been illustrated since 1997 by Chris Riddell, who was made Children’s Laureate in 2015.
Contributors to the magazine have included, among many others, Diana Athill, Kingsley Amis, Martin Amis, Beryl Bainbridge, John Banville, Julian Barnes, Hilary Mantel, John Mortimer, Malcolm Bradbury, A S Byatt, Paul Johnson, David Starkey, John Gray, Robert Harris, Nick Hornby, Richard Ingrams, Joseph O’Neill, Lynn Barber, Derek Mahon, Oleg Gordievsky, John Sutherland and D J Taylor.
Writers wishing to propose a review or a contribution to the magazine’s Bookends column are requested to send a short outline to editorial@literaryreview.co.uk.
We invite letters for publication in response to articles published in the magazine. Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@literaryreview.co.uk.
The Literary Review Bookshop at Heywood Hill
Literary Review is proud to have teamed up with esteemed Mayfair independent bookshop Heywood Hill to offer an unparallelled book-buying service.
All titles reviewed in the magazine – and any other books you might think of – are available for purchase and can be delivered anywhere across the world, always arriving beautifully packaged in Heywood Hill’s signature livery.
Visit the bookshop online here or in person at 10 Curzon Street, London W1J 5HH.
Reach the bookshop by phone on +44 (0)20 7629 0647 or by email at lr@heywoodhill.com
Work experience at Literary Review
We are now back to offering part-time unpaid work experience placements. Successful applicants will gain an insight into the editorial cycle of Literary Review, and will have the opportunity, working in a small office, to contribute to many aspects of the magazine’s production as well as to marketing efforts. They are expected to have a rigorous work ethic and a lively interest in contemporary non-fiction and fiction. Responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to, fact-checking, picture research, organising the slush pile, updating the website, updating social media, assisting with marketing campaigns and performing a range of administrative tasks.
To apply, send a CV, covering letter and your availability to editorial@literaryreview.co.uk
Literary Review incorporating Quarto is published from
44 Lexington Street, London W1F 0LW.
ISSN 0144 4360
