How a temporary strike-born publication became a permanent fixture of British intellectual life
In short: Born from a labor dispute at The Times in 1979, the London Review of Books evolved from a short-term supplement into a radical literary institution. Headquartered in Bloomsbury, it defies the traditional review format, favoring lengthy, wide-ranging essays that often venture far beyond the pages of the books they discuss.
The magazine emerged during a year-long lockout at The Times, which forced the suspension of its established literary supplement. Karl Miller, Mary-Kay Wilmers, and Susannah Clapp launched the publication to fill the void, initially distributing it as a bundled addition within the pages of the New York Review of Books. By May 1980, the journal established its own independent identity. Over the decades, it has cultivated a reputation for being consistently radical, a characterization famously attributed to it by regular contributor Alan Bennett.
The editorial direction was defined significantly by Mary-Kay Wilmers, who assumed the role of editor in 1992 and maintained her leadership for nearly three decades until 2021. Under her tenure, the magazine solidified its preference for long-form prose, typically featuring about fifteen substantial essays per issue. While book reviews remain a staple, the publication frequently explores film, art exhibitions, and complex political or social commentary. This intellectual rigor has occasionally sparked controversy, such as a 2011 libel threat from Niall Ferguson following a critical review by Pankaj Mishra, and a 2023 public dispute with the Hebrew Writers Association regarding a letter of support for Gaza.
Despite its prestige, the magazine has navigated complex financial waters. In 2010, reports indicated a significant debt to the Wilmers family trust, though the lenders expressed no immediate desire for repayment. The brand has also expanded physically, opening a bookshop in Bloomsbury in 2003, which serves as a hub for author events. Today, the publication remains a significant cultural force, evidenced by the 2024 release of a retrospective anthology of Christopher Hitchens's work. With Jean McNicol and Alice Spawls now at the helm, the magazine maintains a circulation of over 74,000 copies per issue, continuing its legacy of challenging, essay-driven discourse.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: London Review of Books
- Also: Wikidata — London Review of Books · CC0
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