Jacques Rivière was a French "man of letters" — a writer, critic and editor who was "a major force in the intellectual life of France in the period immediately following World War I". He edited the magazine La Nouvelle Revue Française (NRF) from 1919 until his death. He was influential in winning a general public acceptance of Marcel Proust as an important writer. His friend and brother-in-law was Alain-Fournier, with whom he exchanged an abundant correspondence.

La Nouvelle Revue Française is a literary magazine based in France. In France, it is often referred to as the NRF.