Authors hit back at Self's claim 'the novel is doomed' | The Bookseller

Self's comments drew some criticism on Twitter from the literary community. Irish writer Barrett, currently based in the US, tweeted: "As a writer, I'd be embarrassed to ever say there's been no good contemporary writing/no good books in X number of years etc, because more than anything it just reveals the poverty of your own appetite for engagement."

Gay, a writer and commentator also based in America, said: "White men love to declare an end to things when they no longer succeed in that arena. The novel is fine."

The Essex Serpent author Sarah Perry asked: "Also: who cares if the novel is doomed, anyway? Storytelling is as old as time and the novel is revising for its GSCEs."