James Wood

The Profile

British literary critic and author of How Fiction Works; contributor to The New Yorker.

Author of How Fiction Works (original English edition 2008); critic for The New Yorker.

Review(s) emphasize James Wood's clear, practical approach to literary criticism in How Fiction Works. The reviewer values Wood's attention to detail and the concept of haecceity, situating him in the English critical tradition. The book is recommended for readers who want concrete critical insight rather than writing shortcuts.