“There is nothing wrong with wanting to publish - or read - books that have a wide potential audience. But it does generate a certain plodding sameness of tone and subject matter that plagues a lot of contemporary American fiction.”

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.