Leon Wieseltier Moves to The Atlantic

Some people always land on their feet.

Leon Wieseltier has been hired by The Atlantic as a contributing editor and critic, the media company announced today. In his new position, he will write about “his customary wide range of subjects” for the magazine and website.

“For a generation of editors and writers, Leon has helped define standards for piercing criticism of culture and society,” Atlantic editor in chief James Bennet said in the announcement. “There is no writer better equipped—by dint of erudition, wit, and forcefulness—to fill the role of critic for The Atlantic.”

There seems to be a revolving door now between The Atlantic and The New Republic, with Wieseltier leaving TNR for The Atlantic and editor Gabriel Snyder leaving The Atlantic for TNR.

I suspect that longtime TNR staff were surprised to see how much pent up rage had built up on the left which was released when Foer and Wieseltier were cashiered. I guess The Atlantic is indifferent to the criticism, which isn’t surprising.

It is, however, disappointing.

Author: BooMan

Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.