An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory - Softcover

Bennett, Andrew; Royle, Nicholas

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0582822955 ISBN 13: 9780582822955

Publisher: Longman, 2004

Synopsis

A new edition of one of the market leading texts for those interested in critical theory and its effect on our reading of the English literary canon. Renowned for its accessible, witty style, the new edition is updated throughout and contains four new chapters to reflect the continuing development of the subject.

 

* The key elements of this book that make it so popular are its clear, highly accessible articulation of ideas, the wide range of texts used as illustrative examples, and its witty, humourous style.

* Number 1 textbook on our Literature list.

* Literary Theory & Criticism is the only major, core course in English departments - every Literature student will study it.

* A new chapter on Creative Writing - currently the biggest 'growth area' in the Humanities in the UK.

About this title

About the Author

The authors have wide experience of teaching literature and literary theory at universities in Britain, Finland and Denmark.

Andrew Bennett is currently Professor of English at the University of Bristol. He has also authored: 'Romantic Poets and the Culture of Posterity' (CUP) and 'Katherine Mansfield' (Northcote House, 2003).

Nicholas Royle is currently Professor of English at the University of Sussex. He is the author of: 'The Uncanny: An Introduction' (MUP) and 'Jacques Derrida' in the Routledge Critical Thinkers Series.

 

From the Back Cover

'The best introduction to literary study on the market' Jonathan Culler,

Cornell University'

'The most un-boring, unnerving, unpretentious textbook I've ever come across'

Elizabeth Wright, University of Cambridge

'It is by far the bext and most readable of all such introductions that I know of...The treatment of the various topics is masterful, even-handed, and informative. I cannot think of a better introduction for undergraduates, to be sure, but for many graduate students too.'

Hayden White, University of California at Santa Cruz

I don't know of any book that could, or does, compete with this one. It is irreplaceable'

Richard Rand, University of Alabama

(Bennett and Royle have) cracked the problem of how to be introductory and sophisticated, accessible but not patronising.'

Peter Buse, English Subject Centre Newsletter

An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory provides a completely fresh  and original introduction to literary studies.

Bennett & Royle approach their subject by way of literary works themselves (a poem by Emily Dickinson, a passage from Shakespeare, a novel by Salman Rushdie), rather than by way of abstract theoretical ideas and isms. In thirty-two short chapters they focus on a range of familiar-looking terms (character, the author, voice, narrative) as well as less obvious ones (laughter, pleasure, ghosts, secrets) in order to show why such literary texts are so compelling. This third edition updates and expands on earlier editions, and includes new chapters on:

• creative writing
• literature and film
• war
• monsters, mutants and the inhuman

An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory avoids what is so frequently tiresome or intimidating about 'theory', offering instead an introduction that is consistently entertaining, thought provoking and surprising.

 

The Authors

The authors have wide experience of teaching and lecturing on literature and literary theory at universities in Britain, Europe and the United States. Andrew Bennett is  Professor of English at the University of Bristol and Nicholas Royle is Professor English at the University of Sussex.

Edition details

• Publisher: Longman
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0582822955
• ISBN 13: 9780582822955
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 360