After Innocence: Visions of the Fall in Modern Literature (Critical essays in modern literature)

The fear of falling, the awareness of lost innocence, lost illusions, lost hopes and intentions, of civilization in decline—these are the themes which link literature to theology, both concerned with the shape of human destiny. Otten discusses the continuing viability of the myth of the Fall in literature. He relates a wide variety of romantic and modern works to fundamental issues in modern Christianity.

Terry Otten is professor emeritus of English at Wittenberg University.