In a solemn dispatch that resounded amongst literary circles, The White Review, a cherished magazine, has announced a hiatus and will cease its daily publishing activities for an unspecified period. The news marks a poignant moment in the world of publishing in the midst of the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The struggle for funding and production costs

In an email sent to supporters, the literary publication, which operated as a registered charity, said it heavily relied on funding from Arts Council England between 2011 and 2021. However, a series of three unsuccessful funding applications in subsequent years, combined with the relentless escalation of production costs, has placed The White Review in an unfortunate predicament. The magazine has been unable to produce a print issue since No. 33, released in June 2022.

In a statement, the board wished the departing editors well as Rosanna Mclaughlin, Izabella Scott, and Skye Arundhati Thomas “steered the magazine through this challenging period.” They assumed leadership in the spring of 2021 and concluded their two-year tenure in July 2023. Their final undertaking, an anthology of new writing in translation scheduled for publication in March 2024, has been made possible through a generous £10,000 grant from the Jan Michalski Foundation. All subscribers will receive a copy, and details regarding subscription fulfillment will be provided in the coming months.

What is The White Review about?

Founded in 2011, The White Review, named in homage to La Revue Blanche, a Parisian magazine of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, has remained a small not-for-profit magazine with charitable status. Editors Ben Eastham and Jacques Testard served until 2017 when Francesca Wade and Željka Marošević assumed the reins. Wade later became the sole editor from autumn 2019 until the magazine marked its tenth anniversary in February 2021.

The hallmark of The White Review has been its meticulously designed print issues, initially overseen by Ray O’Meara and subsequently by Thom Swann. These issues have served as repositories for fiction, poetry, essays, interviews with prominent writers and artists, and showcases of artworks. The magazine’s online presence complements its print editions with reviews, a robust program of public events, and prestigious annual awards such as the White Review Short Story Prize and White Review Poet’s Prize, which have celebrated talented writers including Claire-Louise Bennett, Sophie Mackintosh, and Lucy Mercer.

Over the years, The White Review has provided a literary home for an array of exceptional writers and artists, featuring luminaries such as Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Lydia Davis, Herta Müller, Sally Rooney, and many others. Their contributions have graced the pages of this treasured publication, solidifying its status as a bastion of literary excellence.

As The White Review embarks on this necessary hiatus in the face of economic challenges, the literary community awaits news of its future with bated breath. The magazine’s profound impact on the arts and literature remains indisputable, and there is hope that it will emerge from these trying times to continue its invaluable contributions to the world of letters.