John Carey

One of Britain’s best known and most respected literary critics Professor John Carey talks about his more than 40 years as chief fiction reviewer for the Sunday Times and about some of his most cherished reviews and books.

Carey took on the role in 1977 shortly after being appointed Merton Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford. He is still doing it today and has a back catalogue of more than 1,000 reviews. Among his favourites are articles about the science of laughter, the art of Grayson Perry, the history of madness, and Sylvia Plath’s letters.

Carey is emeritus professor of Merton College. His books include 100 Poets, A Little History of Poetry and The Unexpected Professor. He has twice chaired the Booker Prize committee.