Literary Imagination is a forum for all those interested in the distinctive nature, uses, and pleasures of literature, from ancient to modern, in all languages. Its aim is to encourage wide-ranging discussions between those committed to the reading, writing, and study of poetry, fiction, translations, drama, non-fiction essays, criticism, and scholarship.

Authors have included Robert Alter, Ann Beattie, Saul Bellow, Robert Bly, Ronald Bush, Clare Cavanagh, Stanley Crouch, W. S. Di Piero, Anne Ferry, David Ferry, Donald Hall, Geoffrey Hill, Brenda Hillman, John Hollander, Richard Howard, James Longenbach, W.S. Merwin, Leonard Michaels, Les Murray, Marjorie Perloff, Christopher Ricks, Charles Simic, Willard Spiegelman, Mark Strand, Charles Tomlinson, John Updike, Derek Walcott, C.K. Williams, and Michael Wood. Literary Imagination is known for its cosmopolitan character, publishing innovative work in many genres and a generous amount of translation.

The journal seeks to develop a healthy environment for academic literary study and for the literary culture that extends beyond the academy. The journal welcomes literary scholars, both academic and independent; teachers of literature in colleges, universities, and secondary schools; poets, novelists, playwrights, actors, and directors; translators, journalists, critics, editors, and publishers; and all other serious students of literature, wherever they come from and however they define themselves.

All ALSCW members receive our journal Literary Imagination, currently edited by Archie Burnett, and published by Oxford University Press. ALSCW members are given advanced access to Literary Imagination content—and full access to Literary Imagination archives—through the Oxford University Press website. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions PDF for information about online access, discounts, missing copies, submissions, etc.

Manuscripts must be submitted online through the Oxford University Press Submissions Webpage.