Christoph Irmscher
@chrisirmscher.bsky.social
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Literary critic & book reviewer.
http://christophirmscher.com
.
A terrific experience to chair the
@bookcritics.bsky.social
nonfiction committee, with the amazing
@gwinnma.bsky.social
,
@michaelschaub.bsky.social
, Jacob Appel, Colette Bancroft, Iris Dunkle, Jonathan Leal. Congrats to all longlisted authors and all writers whose work we read during the last year!
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7 days ago
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This was a fun committee to serve on. Congratulations to all the winnersâand, really, everyone who published a biography last year. I read so many books I loved, but we were only able to pick 10 for the longlist, alas! Many of your books I will carry with me for a while. Thank you!
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7 days ago
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Congratulations to these amazing writers! As a member of the
@bookcritics.bsky.social
fiction committee, Iâve felt so privileged to read your work!
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9 days ago
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My new review in
@washingtonmonthly.com
of Brian Soucekâs brilliant âThe Opinionated Universityâ published by
@uchicagopress.bsky.social
. All the arguments you need next time your administration decides to remain silent.
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12 days ago
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A fun crash course in art history in the guise of a novel: Thomas Schlesser's "Mona's Eyes" from
@europaeditions.bsky.social
. My review in
@theartnewspaper.bsky.social
:
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/12/02/f...
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French novel explores art as seen through the eyes of a young girl
The book provides a freshâand refreshingâperspectives on famous works by the likes of Georgia OâKeeffe, Van Gogh and Goya
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/12/02/french-novel-explores-art-as-seen-through-the-eyes-of-a-young-girl
21 days ago
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A new book on the Vorticists finally puts the female artists front and center. My review of James King's "Our Little Gang" (@reaktionbools.co.uk) in @theartnewspapwr.bsky.social):
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/10/31/n...
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New book highlights Vorticismâs toxic sideâand puts its women pioneers back in the frame
James Kingâs study places Jessica Dismorr and Helen Saunders at the centre of the movement
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/10/31/new-book-vorticism-toxic-side-women-pioneers-back-in-frame
about 2 months ago
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Such a pleasure to speak with Anne Kim of
@washingtonmonthly.com
about the art of book reviewing.
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3 months ago
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Laurent Binet's brilliant art historical whodunnit "Perspectives" (
@fsgbooks.bsky.social
,
@penguinbooksuk.bsky.social
) makes the world of 16th-century Florence come alive. My review in The Art Newspaper:
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/10/01/p...
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Pontormo, Vasari and Michelangelo take leading roles in this 16th-century whodunnit
Novelist Laurent Binet weaves a compelling tale of Renaissance Italy with this art historical murder mystery
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/10/01/pontormo-vasari-and-michelangelo-take-leading-roles-in-this-compelling-16th-century-whodunnit
3 months ago
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New review in this week's
@wsj.com
of Henry Wiencek's "Stan and Gus" (
@fsgbooks.bsky.social
), a dual bio of Augustus Saint-Gaudens and the notorious Stanford White. Find out why I think a crab is the fitting symbol of their friendship:
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
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âStan and Gusâ Review: Monsters and Monuments
Stanford White and Augustus Saint-Gaudens had ambitious visions for New York Cityâand towering egos to match.
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/stan-and-gus-review-monsters-and-monuments-20282bd0?st=6e63TC&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
3 months ago
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My take on Jonathan Aaronâs wonderful âJust About Anythingâ
@cmupress.bsky.social
in
@ronslate.bsky.social
âs âOn the Seawallâ: âAaronâs poetry, for the length of a few lines, a handful of pages, persuades us that things or people that are gone arenât, in fact, lost.â
www.ronslate.com/on-just-abou...
3 months ago
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My new review in
@wsj.com
--"The Shape of Wonder,"
@pantheonbooks.bsky.social
, a very readable book, by astrophysicist Alan Lightman and abstronomer Martin Rees. Felt compelled to put in a reminder at the end that the humanities and arts are kind of cool, too:
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
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âThe Shape of Wonderâ Review: Loving Their Lab Lives
The pursuit of scientific knowledge through experiment demands training, rigor and precision. For some it is a deep source of joy.
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/the-shape-of-wonder-review-loving-their-lab-lives-518346f9?st=j5233o&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
4 months ago
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If youâre curious about whatâs happening to higher ed in my state (Indiana), hereâs an indispensable analysis, with plenty of evidence, by my colleague Purnima Bose:
againstthecurrent.org/atc238/india...
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Indianaâs Assault on Public Education
Godfather of Trump University, Trump is insisting on his rules for private and public U.S. universities. RIGHT-WING AUTHORITARIANS such as Donald Trump and his MAGA minions drive their ideological âŠ
https://againstthecurrent.org/atc238/indianas-assault-on-public-education/
4 months ago
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I am so thrilled to have won one of the two 2025 Kukula awards, and congratulations to all the finalists and fellow award winner Ian Johnson. My deep gratitude to
@washingtonmonthly.com
for making this award possibleâand to Kukula Kapoor Glastris, too, for her work. What a legacy!
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4 months ago
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Audubon is usually associated with largenessâhereâs my view of him as a miniaturist, published in
@engelsbergideas.bsky.social
.
engelsbergideas.com/essays/when-...
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When nature took flight
In The Birds of America, a monumental achievement in every sense, John James Audubon wanted more than to illustrate nature. He made it come alive in his art, humbling mankind in the process.
https://engelsbergideas.com/essays/when-nature-took-flight/
4 months ago
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Very happy to be a finalist. Book reviewers often work in obscurityâitâs so great of
@washingtonmonthly.com
to recognize our work. Congratulations to all the other finalists!
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4 months ago
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Congrats to all the poetry finalists of
@bookcritics.bsky.social
! It has been such an honor to serve on this committee!
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11 months ago
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What a delight to serve on the autobiography committee of
@bookcritics.bsky.social
! Congrats to all our finalists!
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11 months ago
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It has been such an honor to serve on the biography committee of
@bookcritics.bsky.social
. Check out our excellent finalists below!
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11 months ago
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reposted by
Christoph Irmscher
National Book Critics Circle
11 months ago
We're excited to announce the shortlist for the 2024 John Leonard Prize, given to an outstanding first book in any genre! Congratulations to all of the finalists.
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reposted by
Christoph Irmscher
National Book Critics Circle
11 months ago
Congratulations to Lori Lynn Turner, the winner of the 2024 NBCC Service Award!
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reposted by
Christoph Irmscher
National Book Critics Circle
11 months ago
Congratulations to
@thirdworldpress.bsky.social
, the winner of the 2024 Toni Morrison Achievement Award!
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reposted by
Christoph Irmscher
National Book Critics Circle
11 months ago
Weâre excited to announce that in honor of our 50th anniversary, weâll be joined at the NBCC Awards ceremony by Maxine Hong Kingston!
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So happy to have been involved in selecting this fabulous list of finalists! Congrats to all!
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11 months ago
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A timely artist. My review of the Alfred Kubin exhibit at the Albertina in Vienna & the accompanying catalog.
www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/01/08/t...
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The stuff of nightmares: catalogue of Alfred Kubinâs work shines a light on his dark world
The macabre artistâs blood-soaked prints and drawings at the start of the 20th century foretold future wars
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/01/08/the-stuff-of-nightmares-catalogue-of-alfred-kubins-work-shines-a-light-on-his-dark-world
12 months ago
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I served on the poetry committee of
@bookcritics.bsky.social
. It was an honor to help select our first-ever poetry longlist for 2024. Congratulations to all these wonderful writers!
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about 1 year ago
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Here is our first ever longlist for biography 2024
@bookcritics.bsky.social
. Proud to be a member of our biography committee and to help select these wonderful titles. Congrats to the authors!
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about 1 year ago
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Check out our autobiography longlist below. I served on the autobiography committee of
@bookcritics.bsky.social
, and it was a pleasure and an honor to spend the last few months in the company of these amazing writers! Congratulations!
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about 1 year ago
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How exciting to be able to share the
@bookcritics.bsky.social
âs longlist for the 2024 Criticism Award!
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about 1 year ago
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Our fiction longlist
@bookcritics.bsky.social
is out! Check out these amazing titles below!
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about 1 year ago
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My most recent article in
@harvardmagazine.bsky.social
: About Werner Sollors's new collection of essays and his decades of work redefining what it means to be "American"--scholarship more important than ever as we're facing another resurgence of nativist rhetoric.
www.harvardmagazine.com/node/88621
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Redefining Race as Ethnicity | Harvard Magazine
The expansive literary scholarship of Werner Sollors
https://www.harvardmagazine.com/node/88621
about 1 year ago
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So proud to serve on the amazing board of
@bookcritics.bsky.social
and to have been involved in this work!
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about 1 year ago
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Art critic John Bergerâs late-in-life correspondence with his son Yves, a painter, is entertaining and moving and full of unexpected comparisons. My review in The Art Newspaper:
www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/12/03/i...
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Intense repartee: a collection of letters that the critic John Berger exchanged with his artist son
The correspondence between John and Yves Berger is both moving and enlightening
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/12/03/intense-repartee-a-collection-of-letters-that-the-critic-john-berger-exchanged-with-his-artist-son
about 1 year ago
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My review of Annie Ernaux and Marc Marieâs âThe Use of Photographyâ (
@sevenstories.bsky.social
), just out in @TheArtNewspaper.
www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/11/26/t...
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This newly translated volume compiles the photographic traces of a libidinous love affair
Author Annie Ernaux and journalist Marc Marieâs collaborative memoir documents a passionate yet haunted relationship
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/11/26/this-newly-translated-volume-compiled-the-photographic-traces-of-a-libidinous-love-affair
about 1 year ago
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I loved Arlie Hochschildâs new book, âStolen Prideâ (
@thenewpress.bsky.social
). A very timely book, of course, but also beautifully written.
www.counterpunch.org/2024/12/02/t...
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The Pride Paradox
Film critic Pauline Kael, the epitome of New York sophistication, is often misquoted as having said that she didnât know anyone who had voted for Nixon. Which is pretty funny. What she in fact said wa...
https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/12/02/the-pride-paradox/
about 1 year ago
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reposted by
Christoph Irmscher
National Book Critics Circle
about 1 year ago
Our culture needs critical voices, and we need your help. Founded in 1974, the National Book Critics Circle supports the art of literary criticism and honors outstanding literature. Please consider supporting the NBCCâs work with an annual or one-time donation.
bookcritics.org/donate
#GivingTuesday
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New review in WSJ Books--on Peter Godfrey-Smith's "Living on Earth" and Katherine Rundell's "Vanishing Treasures" and why humans have little to be proud of.
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
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âLiving on Earthâ and âVanishing Treasuresâ: Getting to Know Our Neighbors
Marveling at fish that build, speeding wombats and other wonders of the animal world.
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/living-on-earth-and-vanishing-treasures-other-minds-other-lives-4cf45568?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0DS_-Lzekd6ZmliEoS49Qek0E8dCxH_fBucQywyEBLQf67LGqsZl4CZcM_aem_TJZqW2pXy6UMjGP-aK0RAA
about 1 year ago
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Celebrating Caspar Savid Friedrichâmy review in The Art Newspaper:
www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/09/10/t...
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Two publications show how, in Caspar David Friedrich's world, mankind is puny against natureâs power
The German artist's work is pored over in two hefty tomes, one a smart overview, the other a comprehensive guide
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/09/10/two-publications-show-how-in-caspar-david-friedrichs-world-mankind-is-puny-against-natures-power-and-glory
about 1 year ago
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Jones Very's poetry is intense, austere, and just a little bit strange--except when he writes, beautifully, about plants and birds. In Clark Davis' "God's Scrivener" (Chicago), Very finally gets the treatment he deserves. My review in this weekend's WSJ:
www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
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âGodâs Scrivenerâ Review: The Inspiration of Jones Very
A follower of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Very was convinced he was a channel to the divine truths found in nature.
https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/gods-scrivener-review-the-inspiration-of-jones-very-6b0552a5?st=o3uh3wxapr2en8t&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
almost 2 years ago
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Lots of books have been written about Thoreau. This one will last. My review of Lawrence Buell's "Thoreau" in this weekend's book section of the Wall Street Journal.
tinyurl.com/mskyktyj
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âHenry David Thoreauâ Review: The Jester at Walden Pond
Describing how his pristine mornings bring âback the heroic ages,â Thoreau is interrupted by a mocking mosquito.
https://tinyurl.com/mskyktyj
about 2 years ago
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