FollowingThe Broken Estate,The Irresponsible Self, andHow Fiction Works books that established James Wood as the leading critic of his generation The Fun Stuffconfirms Woods pre-eminence, not only as a discerning judge but also as an appreciator of the contemporary novel.

In twenty-three passionate, sparkling dispatches that range over such crucial writers as Thomas Hardy, Leo Tolstoy, and Edmund Wilson Wood offers a panoramic look at the modern novel. He effortlessly connects his encyclopaedic, eloquent understanding of the literary canon with an equally in-depth analysis of the most important authors writing today, including Cormac McCarthy, Kazuo Ishiguro, and V.S. Naipaul.

Included inThe Fun Stuffare the title essay on Keith Moon and the lost joys of drumming which was a finalist for last years National Magazine Awards as well as Woods essay on George Orwell, which Christopher Hitchens selected for theBest American Essays 2010.The Fun Stuffis indispensable reading for anyone who cares about contemporary literature.

James Woodhas been a staff writer at theNew Yorkersince 2007. In 2009, he won the National Magazine Award for reviews and criticism. He was the chief literary critic at theGuardianfrom 1992 to 1995, and a book critic at theNew Republicfrom 1995 to 2007. He has published a number of books with Cape, includingHow Fiction Works, which has been translated into thirteen languages.

A passionate and effusive outlook on the contemporary literary landscape, from one of its most accomplished critics and appraisers.