Seattle Arts and Lectures

The Seattle Review of Books was founded in 2015 by Paul Constant and Martin McClellan in response to the perception that journalism about books was receding from the local culture. “We felt it was time,” they write, “for a publishing venture that intends to reflect, record, and celebrate our underserved literary community. From writers to readers, from booksellers to librarians, from new releases to antiquarian discoveries, we want to examine exactly what it means to love books and writing in Seattle in the 21st century. We believe the book review is an underrated art form, and we want to publish as much beautiful writing about books as humanly possible.”

Upon learning of the honor, Constant wrote, “This selection signifies the importance of local media in a time when heartless media conglomerates continue to erode the idea of what journalism could and should be. It honors freedom of speech in an era when President Trump continues to demolish our rights as Americans. It celebrates arts criticism during a time in which most local organizations have cut back on reviews. And it recognizes Seattle’s world-class literary scene, which grows stronger with each passing year.”