The Function of Criticism at the Present Time (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

Matthew Arnold

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0265198356 ISBN 13: 9780265198353

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

What criticism is for and why it matters to readers today.

This book argues that criticism should be a disinterested effort to learn and share the best ideas in the world. It calls for a broad, cross‑cultural perspective, not just a narrow view of current English writing.

It frames criticism as a practical, living activity that guides readers toward fresh knowledge and thoughtful judgment. The author stresses the importance of knowing foreign thought, while valuing clear, honest writing that communicates ideas with accuracy and vitality. The aim is to help readers understand literature as part of a larger human conversation, rather than as a solitary exercise in theory.

• Understand the true purpose of criticism as a search for the best knowledge and thought.
• Learn how critical judgment grows from fresh learning alongside established standards.
• See why cross‑cultural reading matters and how it informs English literature.
• Discover how to read current writing with a balanced, thoughtful eye.

Ideal for readers of literary essays and anyone curious about how criticism shapes culture and understanding.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0265198356
• ISBN 13: 9780265198353
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 158