The Paris Review, Issue 255, Spring 2026

by Emily Stokes (Editor)

Sarah Schulman on the Art of Nonfiction: “I like to have my say, obviously. And if people would have just let me talk, some of these books wouldn’t have had to be written.”

Darryl Pinckney on the Art of Nonfiction: “There are moments when you run up against a white wall—there’s a white man, white man, white man, white man—and the story somehow has to be uncovered.”

Prose by Ingeborg Bachmann, Dan Bevacqua, Patrick Cottrell, Zans Brady Krohn, Tao Lin, David Szalay, and Yu Hua.

Poetry by Inger Christensen, Rachel Lapides, Enrique Lihn, Joyelle McSweeney, Nakahara Chuya, and Asiya Wadud.

Art by Cecily Brown, Tom Fairs, and Cauleen Smith; cover by Cecily Brown.

Genres: Short Stories, Poetry

244 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2026

Reviews

[milliebrewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

was really put off by this edition containing three stories about women being sexually exploited by gross men.

thoroughly enjoyed 'the welder' by ingeborg bachmann, 'the art of nonfiction 14' with sarah schulman, and 'gemstone' by tao lin.

[Maggi Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Whenever a smart, beautiful, perceptive woman hates you - it’s exhilarating.” D. Bevacqua

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a writer so I had never really heard of this before seeing it a few times online from people who are readers/writers so I thought I would give it a shot and picked up the Spring 2026 edition. This is a collection of poetry and prose from a variety of new or established writers and critics, with a little bit of visual art mixed in as well as a couple interviews with writers.

My favorite parts were the interviews surprisingly! Especially the one with Sarah Schulman- I am itching to read her novels now and enjoyed her strong personality and her descriptions of life as a lesbian in New York City in the 80s. My other favorite pieces were probably "The Welder" by Ingeborg Bachmann and "GemStone" by Tao Lin. The rest were not really memorable to me unfortunately.

Not sure I will pick this up again (it is published seasonally I think) but it was interesting to try it out.

[Joni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highlights:

“Gemstone” by Tao Lin
“The Welder” by Ingeborg Bachmann
The Art of Nonfiction No. 14 with Sarah Schulman

[Iroquois · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s my first time reading a whole edition of the Paris Review, hoping to encounter some revigorating stories.

First one, Lorelei and Athens, based and tacky.

The House with the Mezzanine, a good one, yet occasionally spotty and jumpy.

Absolutely loved the welder and gemstone. They reminded me of a lot of my personal experiences. Will reread!

Yu Hua ‘s sleeper bus is just a painfully contrived little pleasantry but that’s it. I really do not like the hidden misogyny in many Chinese male senior-aged writers. The way they instrumentalize women in surrealism has always been triggering to me. For the record, it was a gripping story though.

Curtis and Façade did not leave anything indelible in me.

Sarah Schulman’s interview was refreshing, I m itching to scout her panoramic view of NYC under AIDS.

Liked Epilogue the poetry, 1981 the poetry. Not a fan of the danish one.(too much god for my atheist soul.

[Jacob Elsdon · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I’m reading this book,” he began again. “It argues that in the beginning and in the end, nothing matters. Life and death. I’m reading another book, and it argues that everything matters. I’m reading a book that argues that we have to change the world. And another that argues all sorts of things you can’t even imagine. Good Lord, the things that come out of these books and hover up there like a cloud. And I look up as I’m lying in the dirt fixing the rails for your streetcars and I ask myself, How can we reach each other, this cloud and I?”

[Morgan]

I don’t rate lit mags but this is a notably bad issue, and TPR is my favorite lit mag normally. Can’t believe they published Tao Lin, which I didn’t read, the first short story is shockingly awful, and the Szalay feels like it wouldn’t be in there if he weren’t who he is. Thank god for the interviews!

[Katie Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'I'm reading this book... it argues that in the beginning and in the end, nothing matters. Life and death. I'm reading another book, and it argues that everything matters. I'm reading a book that argues that we have to change the world. And another that argues all sorts of things you can't even imagine. Good Lord, the things that come out of these books and hover up there like a cloud. And I look up as I'm lying in the dirt fixing the rails for your streetcars and I ask myself, How can we reach each other, this cloud and I? [...] there has to be a connection. Otherwise, the books are going to spit in my face, or else I'll spit on the books! So, is there a connection or not?! [...] I have to know. Otherwise none of this makes any sense. Because if I don't know, then what does it matter that the trains run or fresh bread comes out of the oven every day, or one person sweeps the streets and another makes books?'"

average post-nietzsche crashout

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lorelei and Athens - Completely banal and an absolute waste of time
Gemstone - Not read any Tao Lin before this one. I imagine it appeals to a certain kind of reader (most likely the kind of person I was when I was 18) but feels a little hollow and whiny. It's fine.
Sleeper Bus - very good and very funny.
Facades - Like this one. It wasn't stand out or particular memorable, but I did not regret my time with it.

[Matthew Olsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed The House with a Mezzanine, Facades, and the poem On Albrecht Durer's Engraving Saint Eustace.

The standout of the issue was The Welder. I'm still thinking about it and thinking through the meaning of the ending.

[Sprout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the interviews, Pinckney was loaded with so many books to read and I appreciated him calling out the need for criticism. I liked the paintings. Highlights: The Welder. The Albrecht Drürer poem. Public Domain. The house with the Mezzanine. Odd: Lots of prostitution in this issue.

[Santiago M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

All around good issue. The stories were all at least interesting or entertaining. The interviews were okay, as was the poetry, with the exception of [[On Albrecht Dürer's Engraving Saint Eustace - Inger Christensen]] which is phenomenal, but of course, it's [[Inger Christensen]].

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standouts were Lorelei and Athens, GemStone, Art of Nonfiction with Darryl Pinckney.

[Raena]

Highlight: “Gemstone” by Tao Lin

[Char Ruiz Manjarrez]

highlight: the interview with sarah schulman