“Bad criticism recites rote arguments. The shame of rote arguments isn't just that they're cliches, though they are, but that they tend to hide from us why a critic is actually thinking what they're thinking.”

Canadian author, freelance journalist and critic

Michelle Dean is a Canadian author, freelance journalist, and critic. She writes on literature, culture, and ideas, and her work has appeared across a range of publications. Her writing is known for close reading and clear judgment, with a focus on the people and arguments that shape contemporary literary life. She has built a body of work that moves between journalism and criticism.