How a Depression-era layoff birthed the most influential pre-publication book review service in America

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1933 after Virginia Kirkus lost her job at Harper and Brothers, the service began by reviewing just twenty books. Today, it previews over 10,000 titles annually. From its humble origins to its survival through near-closure, Kirkus remains a cornerstone of the publishing industry's pre-release ecosystem.

The story of Kirkus Reviews began in 1932, when the children's book department at Harper and Brothers was shuttered as an economic necessity during the Great Depression. Virginia Kirkus, who had been hired in 1926 to lead that division, found herself out of work. Rather than seeking new employment, she launched her own independent book-review service in 1933. Her initial model was modest: she arranged to receive galley proofs for roughly twenty books, providing early assessments to readers before the titles officially hit the shelves.

Over the following decades, the publication underwent several identity shifts and ownership changes. Originally titled Bulletin by Kirkus' Bookshop Service, it cycled through various names before settling on Kirkus Reviews in 1969. Its corporate history was equally volatile, passing through the hands of The New York Review of Books, James B. Kobak, and VNU. By the end of 2009, the magazine announced it was ceasing operations entirely. However, the publication was saved in February 2010 when businessman Herbert Simon purchased the journal from The Nielsen Company, rebranding the entity as Kirkus Media.

Today, the magazine maintains a dual approach to its editorial mission. Its traditional review program remains free of charge, ensuring editorial independence. Simultaneously, it operates an indie program that allows authors to purchase reviews. While these authors can choose whether to publish their reviews on the Kirkus website, they cannot influence the content of the critique itself. The magazine also champions literary excellence through the Kirkus Prize, established in 2014, which awards $50,000 to winners in fiction, nonfiction, and young readers' literature. In 2026, the organization expanded its reach by launching eight additional prizes specifically for independently published authors, further cementing its role in the modern literary landscape.

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