Overview
The Paris Review is an English-language literary magazine founded in Paris in 1953. Launched by a small group of writers and editors, it established a reputation for long-form fiction, poetry, and in-depth literary interviews. Issued quarterly, the magazine balances work by established authors with writing by emerging voices and has become a touchstone of postwar literary culture.
Founding and development
The Review was founded by Harold L. Humes, Peter Matthiessen (co-founder), and George Plimpton. From modest beginnings in the 1950s, the magazine broadened its international reach while retaining an emphasis on craft and close attention to prose and poetics. Over time its editorial offices moved and its format adapted to changing technologies, including a significant online presence alongside the print edition.
Editorial approach and features
The magazine is best known for publishing original fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, and for a signature series of interviews with writers. These interviews, notable for their depth and conversational tone, explore technique, influences, and the working methods of their subjects. The Paris Review has favored clear, attentive editing and the presentation of complete works rather than heavily excerpted material.
Notable contributors
In its early years and across decades the magazine published many writers who later became central figures in world literature. Examples include:
- Jack Kerouac
- Philip Larkin
- V. S. Naipaul
- Philip Roth
- Terry Southern
- Adrienne Rich
- Italo Calvino
- Samuel Beckett
- Nadine Gordimer
- Jean Genet
Importance and legacy
The Paris Review's influence rests not only on the quality of individual pieces but also on its archival value: interviews and early publications preserve first-hand testimony about literary practice and trace the careers of important writers. Its pages have served as a site for discovering new talent and for sustained conversations about technique, ethics, and the role of literature in public life.
Distinguishing features
Distinctive aspects of the magazine include its commitment to full-length creative work, a sustained interview series that reads as a practical manual for writers, and an editorial sensibility that privileges clarity and formal attention. While modest in circulation compared with mass-market periodicals, it remains highly regarded in academic and literary communities as both a publication and a historical record.