This chapter explores Elizabeth Bowen’s career as a literary critic, which is a significant but often overlooked aspect of her writing life. Focusing on her two published essay collections – Collected Impressions (1950) and Afterthought: Pieces about Writing (1962) – as well as a series of uncollected book reviews and articles that appeared in a wide range of British and American newspapers and journals, this chapter examines Bowen’s distinctive approach to criticism and traces the development of her public persona as a critic, particularly from the late 1940s onwards. While it is well documented that Bowen’s prodigious critical output was driven in part by financial necessity, her writing in this domain demonstrates a sensitivity to atmosphere and a deep interest in better understanding the craft of writing. A reviewer who kept the common reader in mind, Bowen above all else conveyed to her readers the sense of being a reasonable judge with varied taste. This chapter assesses Bowen’s enduring critical legacy and argues that her contributions to literary journalism merit sustained attention within the broader histories of twentieth-century criticism.