Philosophy

Founded in late 2008, as book review sections around the United States floundered and the literary world searched for new models, new paradigms, and a new raison d'etre, the mission of The Critical Flame was simple: to keep the conversation alive. A literary publication ought to be a public expression of the national discourse on literature and, more broadly, on the state and values of the culture. We go forward with the great hope that open and articulate discussion is as easily spread as wildfire, that CF will be a spark in arid kindling. When considering a title for review, we ask only, "Why is this worth reviewing?" Or perhaps a better way to put it would be, "What good is there to be had from a review of this book?"

Read Daniel E. Pritchard's "Welcome to the Critical Flame" here.

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The staff

Daniel E. Pritchard :: works in production for a small publisher by day, and is a poet, critic, and blogger by night. Daniel is the founder and publisher of The Critical Flame, as well as its managing editor and web designer. In his criticism, he specializes in poetry, fiction, cultural and literary criticism, and philosophy. He writes a regular blog, The Wooden Spoon.

Jonathan Wooding :: currently employed by a mathematics textbook publisher, Jonathan's background is in Modern British, Irish, and French literature; mythology, ephemera, and animation round out his lifelong fascinations. He specializes in literary fiction, history, and graphic novels.

Katherine A. Evans :: a native of Liverpool, UK (via Cincinnati, Ohio), and burgeoning "foodie," Katherine specializes in contemporary literature, post-colonialism, feminist studies, Modernism, and architectual criticism.

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress number for The Critical Flame is ISSN 2155-2347