Critics have traditionally been lowest on the literary food chain – until they created the Hatchet Job award, writes Nick Lezard
Hatchet Job of the Year shortlist - 2013's most negative reviews in quotes
Tasters of the reviews competing for the annual prize that recognises 'the angriest, funniest, most trenchant book review of the past 12 months'
Hatchet Job of the Year award draws and quarters shortlist
Eight of the most cutting book reviews written last year are in contention for the prize honouring literary criticism's most poisonous pens
February 2013
Hatchet Job of the Year goes to assault on Rachel Cusk
Camilla Long's scathing review of Cusk's memoir Aftermath draws most blood in contest for the best bad review
January 2013
Hatchet Job of the Year shortlist lines up sharpest reviews
The harshest book reviews of the year - in pictures
December 2012
In praise of ...
In praise of… the hatchet job
Shortcuts
Is Zoë Heller's review of Salman Rushdie's memoir the 'hatchet job of the year'?
February 2012
Adam Mars-Jones: 'The only bad review is one whose writing is soggy'
Adam Mars-Jones, winner of the first Hatchet Job award for a book review in the Observer, reflects on his craft
Review of The Hours author's latest book wins inaugural hatchet job award
Michael Cunningham's novel By Nightfall prompted 1,000-word demolition job in Observer by author and critic Adam Mars-Jones
The conversation
Should we celebrate scathing book reviews?
Emine Saner
The Hatchet Job of the Year is a new literary prize for the best scathing book review. Nominee Geoff Dyer and Anna Baddeley, who set it up, discuss the role of criticism
January 2012
Which book reviewer will win the 'hatchet job of the year' award?
