James Wood
Literary critic and professor at Harvard University, specializing in the theory and practice of fiction. He is the author of "How Fiction Works" and "The Nearest Thing to Life."
March 7, 2026·8 min read
The Novel in the Age of Distraction
Book sales have declined, attention spans have shortened, and the competition for readers' time has never been more intense. Yet literary fiction continues to find audiences, and some argue that the novel is more important than ever as a form of deep engagement in an age of distraction. The future of literature is uncertain but not hopeless.
TOPICS
literaturenoveldigital agereadingpublishing
