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I'm looking for one handy tome of literary criticism that:
1) has various chapters on various authors/books
2) isn't clouded by all that modern theory
3) is brilliant and insightful
4) is interesting enough to not put someone new to criticism to sleep
I'll be taking a long break from university and would like to check such a tome out of the library first to complement my readings over the break.
Not sure if that's enough to give you a clear idea of what I'm looking for... Thanks.
I have suggestion though it is very incomplete insofar as its subjects are concerned--the title makes this clear--and VERY biased, but the most entertaining and in my opinion unclouded by what many dislike in modern criticism. It is D.H. Lawrence's "Studies in Classic American Literature."
Also, Samuel Johnson's criticism of the Metaphysical poets--and of course his introduction to Shakespeare--is unparalleled as far as writing goes. This however is far more "dated" than even Lawrence. Personally I find the criticism has more soul and resonance than a lot of newer examples but of course: to each their own.
The Red Brush: Writing Women from Imperial China.
Just got this, and all I can say is wow - it covers a long history, with many genres, many themes, and many authors, and top notch scholarship as well as primary texts.
I found Harold Bloom's How to Read and Why very helpful after a re-reading. It's the 1st book on literary criticism I read. Whether or not it contains modern theory, I don't know. Nevertheless, I found the criticiques detailed and insightful.
Thanks for the replies.
I'm also looking for some accessible but valuable criticisms on Proust, Shakespeare, and Homer. For Shakespeare, I've found Shakespearean Tragedy by A.C. Bradley and Characters of Shakespeare's Plays by William Hazlitt. Has anyone read them? How are they? Any better recommendations?
Well, Bloom is in my mind one of the best on Shakespeare. He has a vast body of work but his Western Canon is a great place to start for the first request. As to Shakespeare exclusively I don't even know, though some love "Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human".
I just remembered another critic I love: George Steiner. He has some GREAT books out, maybe start with the typological essay "On Difficulty" to see how you feel about his style and level of depth.
I just bought the Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism for a course, it is certainly incomplete--JBI could tell you better than I its lacking in certain geographical areas (such as the Eastern Hemisphere)--but it is still about as comprehensive as a 2000 book could hope to be.
I agree with the comments on Harold Bloom, and would also recommend starting with "The Western Canon". It has good sections on Shakespeare, Proust, and about twenty other writers generally considered to be at the centre of the canon. Bloom considers Johnson to be the best critic, and includes him in his canon.
I'm currently reading Johnson's Rambler essays, which are wonderful! Many take a 'large view' of criticism, and the essays on how 'realist novels' and 'pastoral poems' should be considered are superb. I'm reading the "Oxford Classics Great Works" which contains good selections of his critical works -- Shakespeare preface, lives of the poets,... -- as well as Rambler essays. But be warned it is not *just* great works, the first 150 of the 700+ pages are juvenile works & poems, you might like to skip those, and start with Rambler essays.
Other good books by Bloom include "Genius" and "Where is wisdom to be found"--these include sections on Homer and other ancient writers ("The Western canon" starts with Dante).
Start with a book of literary history. It will make you familiar with terms and major writers. Stick to English Literature to start with. Then move on to classical criticism, Johnson, Hazlitt, Bradley, Eliot, Babbitt and then to more simple and accessable 20th century critics like Harold Bloom. You must base your study on a a good knowledge of history of the literature you are reading.