Product Category Search
Top rated 20th century literary criticism books
-
Definitive overview
The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages
Harold Bloom's influential survey of the Western literary tradition, offering sharp analysis and a canonical list that remains widely debated.
- Comprehensive historical scope
- Passionate, authoritative voice
- Provocative thesis
- Subjective canon choices
-
Foundational theory
The Mirror and the Lamp: Romantic Theory and the Critical Tradition
M.H. Abrams's classic work on Romantic literary criticism, tracing the shift from mimetic to expressive theories of art.
- Clear theoretical framework
- Influential and enduring
- Elegant prose
- Focused only on Romantic era
-
Literary theory classic
The Anxiety of Influence: A Theory of Poetry
Harold Bloom's provocative theory of poetic influence as a creative misreading of predecessors, reshaping literary historiography.
- Original theoretical model
- Engagingly written
- Widely referenced
- Dense and allusive
- Controversial claims
-
Practical criticism
The Great Tradition: George Eliot, Henry James, Joseph Conrad
F.R. Leavis's influential book that defines a 'great tradition' in English fiction, with close readings of moral seriousness in the novel.
- Insightful close readings
- Strong critical stance
- Concise and focused
- Narrow canon
- Dismissive of other works
-
Narrative theory
The Rhetoric of Fiction
Wayne C. Booth's seminal study of narrative techniques and the ethics of fiction, introducing concepts like the implied author and unreliable narrator.
- Pioneering narrative analysis
- Accessible yet deep
- Ethical focus
- Some dated examples
-
Movement overview
The New Criticism: A Lecture by John Crowe Ransom
John Crowe Ransom's foundational text that named and defined the New Criticism, emphasizing close reading and textual autonomy.
- Historical importance
- Clear exposition
- Concise
- Brief pamphlet
- Outdated approach
-
Cultural criticism
Mythologies
Roland Barthes's brilliant semiological analysis of everyday French culture, decoding the myths of mass media and consumer society.
- Witty and insightful
- Short, pithy essays
- Influential in multiple fields
- French-centric examples
-
General introduction
Literary Theory: An Introduction
Terry Eagleton's accessible and witty overview of major 20th-century literary theories, from New Criticism to post-structuralism.
- Engaging writing style
- Comprehensive coverage
- Politically aware
- Biased perspective
- Now somewhat dated
Related Queries
- general books and reading
- tragic dramas and plays books
- sea stories books
- gothic and romantic literary criticism books
- action and adventure short stories books
- british and irish horror books
- russian literary criticism books
- fairy tales books
- canadian literary criticism books
- poetry by women books
- mothers and children fiction books
- fantasy erotica books
- middle eastern dramas and plays books
- erotic westerns books
- single women fiction books