The Idler (Canadian magazine)
| Former editors | Gerald Owen |
|---|---|
| Categories | Literary magazine |
| Frequency | Monthly (irregular) |
| Paid circulation | 4,300 |
| Total circulation (1993) | 8,000 |
| Founder | David Warren |
| Founded | January 1985 |
| First issue | 1985 |
| Final issue | 1993 |
| Country | Canada |
The Idler was a Canadian literary magazine, published from 1985 to 1993. Named after Samuel Johnson's 18th-century historical essay series The Idler, the magazine included poetry and fiction but was mainly dedicated to essays. The Idler described its ideal reader as "a sprightly, octogenarian spinster with a drinking problem, and an ability to conceal it."
Initially a bimonthly, The Idler became a monthly magazine in 1989. However, its publication schedule was often disrupted by its chronic financial difficulties.