In Retrospect: CK Williams Taught Me I Was Not a Poet

By NBCC

The following essay by Steve Almond kicks off the latest week of In Retrospect, which will revisit C.K. Williams' collection, “Flesh and Blood,” which won the NBCC's award for poetry in 1987. This

Roxana Robinson on Reading Lydia Davis

By Roxana Robinson

I can't stand Lydia Davis, though, no, that's not quite it, it's that I can't stand Lydia Davis's work, though that's not quite it either, I can't stand reading Lydia

A Brief History of the Short Story in America

By NBCC

The development and rise of the American short story in the 19th century was the result of simple market forces. Because urban populations in America were so unstable, workers moving

In Retrospect: Patrick Neate’s Hip-Hop Playlist

By NBCC

This week, in addition to regular programming, Critical Mass will be revisiting Patrick Neate's 2004 criticism winner, “Where You're At: Notes from the Frontline of a Hip-Hop Planet.” We decided to

In Retrospect: Helen Vendler on “Day by Day”

By NBCC

Due to a scheduling conflict, Helen Vendler was unable to do an interview on “Day by Day” this week, as originally planned. But she has already said plenty about the book. In fact, she