by Kayleigh McNamara Dylan Thomas said, “Poetry is what in a poem makes you laugh, cry, prickle, be silent, makes your toenails twinkle, makes you want to do this or that or nothing, makes you know that you are alone in the unknown world, that your bliss and suffering is forever shared and…

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by Michael Antman Imagine a modestly talented contemporary novelist undertaking the task of writing about a down-and-out morphine addict, small-time card dealer and amateur drummer who associates with similar urban lowlifes.  Flat, featureless present-tense writing and a fixation on the…

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By Anushka Dabhade  It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a literary community in possession of a good thirst, must be in want of a perfectly balanced cocktail. On Saturday evening, February 28, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame proved this maxim true once again with their latest…

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by Kayleigh McNamara "In March the earth remembers its own name. Everywhere the plates of snow are cracking. The rivers begin to sing.” – Mary Oliver, Worm Moon As the earth remembers its name in March, so too does Chicago. Ice is melted, windows are opened, and life is once again…

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By Jasminum McMullen Writuals explores how our city's rich literary heritage, cultural diversity, and iconic spaces inspire routines that fuel the work of local authors.   Danielle Bainbridge is an Assistant Professor of Theatre, Performance Studies, and Black Studies at Northwestern…

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by Donald G. Evans In the course of four decades in Chicago, Beatriz Badikian-Gartler has established herself as a notable poet, teacher, and social justice advocate. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Beatriz was an important contributor and organizer in Chicago’s emerging Hispanic…

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Author: Lori Rader-Day Publication Date: January 6, 2026 Publisher: Minotaur Books   by Donald G. Evans There are many variations of “country music,” just as there are many different kinds of “Chicago.” We learn this from Dahlia “Doll” Devine, a 26-year-old…

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by Donald G. Evans Though Winesburg, Ohio is not a Chicago book, Sherwood Anderson was, to a large extent, a Chicago author. Anderson first came to Chicago around 1896, after his mother’s death; he stayed with his artist brother, Karl, and worked as an advertising copywriter until he left the…

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by Reese Plagenz There is a dedication in documentation that comes not with rigor, but with care and attention. As a native of Connecticut, there was no specific relation that brought Jesse Raber to Chicago, but as with most people that spend time here, it drew him in, asking him to unravel its…

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