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Christoph Irmscher

@chrisirmscher

Literary critic & book reviewer. http://christophirmscher.com.

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18.09.2023
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Latest posts by Christoph Irmscher @chrisirmscher

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New biography offers well-crafted story of Louise Bourgeoisโ€™s rich life Knife-Woman is the fullest account to date of the life of one of the most influential artists of the last century

Louise Bourgeois had to wait till she was 70 to get a major retrospective. She never gave up; her quirky, provocative installations continue to inspire today. She fully deserves this major biography, "Knife-Woman," by Marie-Laure Bernadac. My review for The Art Newspaper.

19.02.2026 15:20 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Included in the excellent new issue of @washingtonmonthly.com!

11.02.2026 01:06 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I hope someone puts it up again over night and again and againโ€ฆ they can take down the flags but not erase their achievements.

11.02.2026 00:21 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Very pleased to be published in @washingtonmonthly.com today! And โ€”โ€œBernie for Burlingtonโ€โ€ฆwhat a fabulous biography!

02.02.2026 15:13 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

A terrific experience to chair the @bookcritics.bsky.social nonfiction committee, with the amazing @gwinnma.bsky.social, @michaelschaub.bsky.social, Jacob Appel, Colette Bancroft, Iris Dunkle, Jonathan Leal. Congrats to all longlisted authors and all writers whose work we read during the last year!

17.12.2025 19:52 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

This was a fun committee to serve on. Congratulations to all the winnersโ€”and, really, everyone who published a biography last year. I read so many books I loved, but we were only able to pick 10 for the longlist, alas! Many of your books I will carry with me for a while. Thank you!

17.12.2025 14:13 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Congratulations to these amazing writers! As a member of the @bookcritics.bsky.social fiction committee, Iโ€™ve felt so privileged to read your work!

16.12.2025 00:00 ๐Ÿ‘ 4 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

My new review in @washingtonmonthly.com of Brian Soucekโ€™s brilliant โ€œThe Opinionated Universityโ€ published by @uchicagopress.bsky.social. All the arguments you need next time your administration decides to remain silent.

12.12.2025 05:28 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 5 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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French novel explores art as seen through the eyes of a young girl The book provides a freshโ€”and refreshingโ€”perspectives on famous works by the likes of Georgia Oโ€™Keeffe, Van Gogh and Goya

A fun crash course in art history in the guise of a novel: Thomas Schlesser's "Mona's Eyes" from @europaeditions.bsky.social. My review in @theartnewspaper.bsky.social: www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/12/02/f...

03.12.2025 16:07 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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New book highlights Vorticismโ€™s toxic sideโ€”and puts its women pioneers back in the frame James Kingโ€™s study places Jessica Dismorr and Helen Saunders at the centre of the movement

A new book on the Vorticists finally puts the female artists front and center. My review of James King's "Our Little Gang" (@reaktionbools.co.uk) in @theartnewspapwr.bsky.social): www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/10/31/n...

03.11.2025 13:41 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Such a pleasure to speak with Anne Kim of @washingtonmonthly.com about the art of book reviewing.

10.10.2025 00:24 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Pontormo, Vasari and Michelangelo take leading roles in this 16th-century whodunnit Novelist Laurent Binet weaves a compelling tale of Renaissance Italy with this art historical murder mystery

Laurent Binet's brilliant art historical whodunnit "Perspectives" (@fsgbooks.bsky.social, @penguinbooksuk.bsky.social) makes the world of 16th-century Florence come alive. My review in The Art Newspaper: www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/10/01/p...

01.10.2025 14:12 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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โ€˜Stan and Gusโ€™ Review: Monsters and Monuments Stanford White and Augustus Saint-Gaudens had ambitious visions for New York Cityโ€”and towering egos to match.

New review in this week's @wsj.com of Henry Wiencek's "Stan and Gus" (@fsgbooks.bsky.social), a dual bio of Augustus Saint-Gaudens and the notorious Stanford White. Find out why I think a crab is the fitting symbol of their friendship:

www.wsj.com/arts-culture...

19.09.2025 19:45 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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My take on Jonathan Aaronโ€™s wonderful โ€œJust About Anythingโ€ @cmupress.bsky.social in @ronslate.bsky.socialโ€™s โ€œOn the Seawallโ€: โ€œAaronโ€™s poetry, for the length of a few lines, a handful of pages, persuades us that things or people that are gone arenโ€™t, in fact, lost.โ€ www.ronslate.com/on-just-abou...

12.09.2025 18:55 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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โ€˜The Shape of Wonderโ€™ Review: Loving Their Lab Lives The pursuit of scientific knowledge through experiment demands training, rigor and precision. For some it is a deep source of joy.

My new review in @wsj.com--"The Shape of Wonder," @pantheonbooks.bsky.social, a very readable book, by astrophysicist Alan Lightman and abstronomer Martin Rees. Felt compelled to put in a reminder at the end that the humanities and arts are kind of cool, too: www.wsj.com/arts-culture...

03.09.2025 04:19 ๐Ÿ‘ 7 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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Indianaโ€™s Assault on Public Education Godfather of Trump University, Trump is insisting on his rules for private and public U.S. universities. RIGHT-WING AUTHORITARIANS such as Donald Trump and his MAGA minions drive their ideological โ€ฆ

If youโ€˜re curious about whatโ€˜s happening to higher ed in my state (Indiana), hereโ€˜s an indispensable analysis, with plenty of evidence, by my colleague Purnima Bose: againstthecurrent.org/atc238/india...

01.09.2025 01:50 ๐Ÿ‘ 0 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I am so thrilled to have won one of the two 2025 Kukula awards, and congratulations to all the finalists and fellow award winner Ian Johnson. My deep gratitude to @washingtonmonthly.com for making this award possibleโ€”and to Kukula Kapoor Glastris, too, for her work. What a legacy!

20.08.2025 23:02 ๐Ÿ‘ 5 ๐Ÿ” 1 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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When nature took flight In The Birds of America, a monumental achievement in every sense, John James Audubon wanted more than to illustrate nature. He made it come alive in his art, humbling mankind in the process.

Audubon is usually associated with largenessโ€”hereโ€™s my view of him as a miniaturist, published in @engelsbergideas.bsky.social. engelsbergideas.com/essays/when-...

18.08.2025 04:16 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 2 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Very happy to be a finalist. Book reviewers often work in obscurityโ€”itโ€™s so great of @washingtonmonthly.com to recognize our work. Congratulations to all the other finalists!

12.08.2025 21:30 ๐Ÿ‘ 17 ๐Ÿ” 6 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Congrats to all the poetry finalists of @bookcritics.bsky.social! It has been such an honor to serve on this committee!

24.01.2025 03:18 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

What a delight to serve on the autobiography committee of @bookcritics.bsky.social! Congrats to all our finalists!

24.01.2025 03:16 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

It has been such an honor to serve on the biography committee of @bookcritics.bsky.social. Check out our excellent finalists below!

24.01.2025 03:15 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
The finalists for the 2024 John Leonard Prize, given to an outstanding first book in any genre, are By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight For Justice on Native Land by Rebecca Nagle (Harper), Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir by Tessa Hulls (MCD/Farrar, Straus and Giroux), Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham (Hogarth), Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywoodโ€™s Hidden Genius by Carrie Courogen (St. Martinโ€™s), Ward Toward by Cindy Juyoung Ok (Yale University), and When The Clock Broke: Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990s by John Ganz (Farrar, Straus and Giroux).

The finalists for the 2024 John Leonard Prize, given to an outstanding first book in any genre, are By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight For Justice on Native Land by Rebecca Nagle (Harper), Feeding Ghosts: A Graphic Memoir by Tessa Hulls (MCD/Farrar, Straus and Giroux), Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham (Hogarth), Miss May Does Not Exist: The Life and Work of Elaine May, Hollywoodโ€™s Hidden Genius by Carrie Courogen (St. Martinโ€™s), Ward Toward by Cindy Juyoung Ok (Yale University), and When The Clock Broke: Con Men, Conspiracists, and How America Cracked Up in the Early 1990s by John Ganz (Farrar, Straus and Giroux).

We're excited to announce the shortlist for the 2024 John Leonard Prize, given to an outstanding first book in any genre! Congratulations to all of the finalists.

23.01.2025 15:08 ๐Ÿ‘ 58 ๐Ÿ” 11 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 4 ๐Ÿ“Œ 4
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Congratulations to Lori Lynn Turner, the winner of the 2024 NBCC Service Award!

23.01.2025 15:12 ๐Ÿ‘ 13 ๐Ÿ” 3 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
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Congratulations to @thirdworldpress.bsky.social, the winner of the 2024 Toni Morrison Achievement Award!

23.01.2025 15:13 ๐Ÿ‘ 15 ๐Ÿ” 4 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
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Weโ€™re excited to announce that in honor of our 50th anniversary, weโ€™ll be joined at the NBCC Awards ceremony by Maxine Hong Kingston!

23.01.2025 15:14 ๐Ÿ‘ 28 ๐Ÿ” 5 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

So happy to have been involved in selecting this fabulous list of finalists! Congrats to all!

24.01.2025 03:13 ๐Ÿ‘ 2 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
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The stuff of nightmares: catalogue of Alfred Kubinโ€™s work shines a light on his dark world The macabre artistโ€™s blood-soaked prints and drawings at the start of the 20th century foretold future wars

A timely artist. My review of the Alfred Kubin exhibit at the Albertina in Vienna & the accompanying catalog. www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/01/08/t...

10.01.2025 05:20 ๐Ÿ‘ 1 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I served on the poetry committee of @bookcritics.bsky.social. It was an honor to help select our first-ever poetry longlist for 2024. Congratulations to all these wonderful writers!

19.12.2024 15:39 ๐Ÿ‘ 9 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Here is our first ever longlist for biography 2024 @bookcritics.bsky.social. Proud to be a member of our biography committee and to help select these wonderful titles. Congrats to the authors!

18.12.2024 01:36 ๐Ÿ‘ 9 ๐Ÿ” 0 ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0 ๐Ÿ“Œ 0