James Wood is a highly influential and often controversial British literary critic, essayist, and novelist. He is known for his sharp, incisive, and often unforgiving analyses of contemporary fiction, published primarily in *The New Yorker*, where he was a staff writer for many years. Wood is admired for his deep engagement with literary tradition and his commitment to exploring the moral and philosophical dimensions of storytelling. He is also the author of several books, including the acclaimed novel *The Book Against God* and the influential critical work *How Fiction Works*. His writing is characterized by its intellectual rigor, elegant prose, and unwavering commitment to the power and importance of literary art.
