The Failures of Criticism (Cornell Paperbacks # 55)

363pp., x. First edition published in 1944 under title, Writers and Their Critics (Messenger Lectures at Cornell University); Second Edition, 1967; this copy, stated: "First printing, Cornell Paperbacks, 1967". Appendix, "What Is Wrong with American Book Reviewing?", pp. 319-338; Bibliographical Notes, pp. 339-348; Index, pp. 349-363. Glossy light tan wrappers ('$2.95' price at upper right corner front cover) with front cover illustration of pair of brown glasses with one broken lens, resting on a lined sheet of paper, partly on top of a sharpened pencil, pointing to the title in black letters at top right center front cover; author name lettering in black at lower right; two staples penetrate entire thick text, keeping binding very tight; corners essentially square; a bit of superficial wear down right edge front cover and down spine edges; spine slightly sunned, with superficial light brown jagged water stains across foot of spine and near midpoint of left spine edge (NO penetration through to text block itself); three minor creases at rear cover bottom left corner (only 1 1/4" diagonal at corner can be seen on inside cover--still essentially flat: describes much worse than it is: a solid copy with tight binding, square corners for the text block, no previous owner names. Clean text.…