Product Description

This anthology of classic and cutting–edge statements in literary theory has now been updated to include recent influential texts in the areas of Ethnic Studies, Postcolonialism and International Studies.

• A definitive collection of classic statements in criticism and new theoretical work from the past few decades.
  
• All the major schools and methods that make up the dynamic field of literary theory are represented, from Formalism to Postcolonialism.
  
• Enables students to familiarise themselves with the most recent developments in literary theory and with the traditions from which these new theories derive.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34098 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 1336 pages

From the Back Cover
Literary Theory: An Anthology is a definitive collection of classic and contemporary statements in the field of literary theory and criticism. It is an invaluable resource for students who wish to familiarize themselves with the most recent developments in literary theory and with the traditions from which these new theories are derived.

The anthology represents all the major schools and methods that make up the dynamic field of literary theory. It contains classic texts from a range of movements, including Formalism, Structuralism, Marxism, Psychoanalysis, Deconstruction, Historicism, and Feminism, and incorporates cutting–edge work by leading theoreticians in the fields of Postmodernism, Cultural Studies, Post–colonialism, Gay and Lesbian studies, and Ethnic Studies. For the second edition, the content has been updated to include the most recent influential texts, particularly in the areas of Ethnic Studies, Transnational Studies, and Cultural Studies.

About the Author
Julie Rivkin is Professor at Connecticut College, where she teaches courses in American Literature, Contemporary Women Writers, and Literary Theory. She is the author of False Positions: The Representational Logics of Henry James′s Fiction (1996).

Michael Ryan is Professor of English at Northeastern University, where he teaches courses in American Literature and Culture, American Film, and Literary Theory.

Customer Reviews

I don't go a week without picking this book up!
This book was a set text for a Lit Theory module during my degree. Initially I was just annoyed at having to carry it to and from my lectures, but I soon came to realise that in fact, this book was going to become the corner stone of my work from then on.

My tutor told me that the reason she set this text is so that we could become involved in the original writing that forms what we know as theory today. Instead of reading other academics interpretations and explanations of what a theory is, we were able to go back to the roots, and start to understand the theory ourselves.

What this book has enabled me to do is to become acquainted with these theorists, and use what they wrote in every aspect of my academic work. My grades have jumped the last hurdle into consistent A's because of this book. I can use theorist's original ideas and create my own interpretations of the texts, instead of having to rely solely on other academics theoretical translations

I absolutely believe that this text is essential to any serious literature under- and post- graduate. I say serious student, because there is no hiding the fact that these essays are tough going, and take a lot of time to assimilate into your own understanding. It is however worth all the effort.

(There is also a book called Literary Theory- An Introduction which accompanies this anthology. Personally, I believe that it is frankly, a useless book that offers nothing more than a confused and often over simplified notion of the theories. Thus taking the magic of the anthology away)

A must for all literature students
This book is an absolute must for anyone studying literature at university. The book gives an indepth study of all the literary theories from psychoanalysis, gender, feminism, postmodernism, structuralism etc. It uses the orginal papers written by theorists such as Freud, Derrida, Saussare as well as more modern writers such as Toni Morrison.
While some of the language is heavy going it will give you a firm grasp of literary theories, so its brilliant when you're trying to write essays. Definitely worth the money!

If you like that sort of thing
One of those books that crops up on every Eng. Lit. student's reading list at some stage during their degrees, and one of those books that will lurk on the bookshelf looking clever (and unread) until you at last tire of hankering after the bright college days.

Any anthology must deal with the fundamental challenge of being representative of the field it covers, and, given the range of fields contained within this book, that is an enormous challenge. Unfortunately, it doesn't really cope that well. On the one hand it does offer original source texts by most of the big names in the business, but those source texts are frequently too specialised or closely focussed to be of use to the reader of an anthology.

If you need to buy this book for your course, it will see you through most seminars pretty well and give you enough windy quotations during which your cappucino will go cold. However, a better approach to understanding literary and critical theory would be to buy a shorter overview and then go to the original books according to the area into which you wish to research.