Pens and Poison is the literary project of author Liza Libes. Enter a world of literary analyses, cultural critiques, and other hot takes.
| Platform |  | Pricing | Freemium | Publishes | Twice weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issues | 210 | Founded | 2 years ago | Last Issue | 7 days ago |
| Active | |||||
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pensandpoison.orgLatest Issues
Why Crime and Punishment is the Second-Greatest Novel Ever Written
Dostoyevsky understood something about human nature that modern literature has forgotten.
Dostoyevsky might just be the greatest novelist ever to have walked this earth—and I can prove it.
Cathy Ames Is Evil. That’s the Point.
2026 might just be the year of atrocious book-to-movie adaptations.
Back in February, we were subjected to the revolting BDSM fantasy that, for whatever reason, bore the title “Wuthering Heights” (the film, I assure you, has no relation to...
How Bad Writing Became Literary
This past week, the National Book Award released its 10 longlist picks—and we need to stage an intervention.
This year’s longlisted novels—ranging from autofiction by autistic trans they/thems to autofiction by gay black men (“range” is pe...
This Book Is Everything Wrong With Modern Literature
The following essay contains spoilers for Ben Lerner’s The Topeka School (though I don’t know why this should matter to anyone because I would not wish the fate of reading The Topeka School on my worst enemy).
Many of you know that I rarel...
Provocative Insights From an Unapologetic Classicist
This past week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Peter Boghossian on his fantastically provocative show. We discussed everything from the downfall of academia to the modern literary establishment—and why I hate pornographic fairy elves....
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Founder of Pens and Poison, a unique multi-platform project that promotes the love of literature and the humanistic tradition.
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