The critic in the modern world : public criticism from Samuel Johnson to James Wood / James Ley.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ley, James, 1971- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Criticism--Great Britain--History.

Criticism.

Literature--History and criticism--Theory, etc.

Literature.

Social change in literature.

Social values in literature.

Critics--Great Britain--Biography.

Critics.

Public opinion.

History.

Great Britain.

Critics--Attitudes.

Critics--Public opinion.

Literature and society.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

240 pages ; 22 cm

Other Title:

Public criticism from Samuel Johnson to James Wood

Place of Publication:

New York : Bloomsbury, 2014.

Summary:

"The Critic in the Modern World explores the work of six influential literary critics--Samuel Johnson, William Hazlitt, Matthew Arnold, T.S. Eliot, Lionel Trilling and James Wood--each of whom occupies a distinct historical moment. It considers how these representative critics have constructed their public personae, the kinds of arguments they have used, and their core principles and philosophies. Spanning three hundred years of cultural history, The Critic in the Modern World considers the various ways in which literary critics have positioned themselves in relation to the modern tradition of descriptive criticism. In providing a lucid account of each critic's core principles and philosophies, it considers the role of the literary critic as a public figure, interpreting him as someone who is compelled to address the wider issues of individualism and the social implications of the democratising, secularising, liberalising forces of modernity"-- Provided by publisher.

"Explores the work of six influential literary critics, across three centuries, in order to consider the role of the literary critic as a public figure"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note:

Introduction1. A Degree of Insanity: Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)2. Fire from the Flint: William Hazlitt (1778-1830)3. A Thyestea;n Banquet of Clap-Trap: Matthew Arnold (1822-1888)4. The Principles of Modern Heresy: T.S. Eliot (1888-1965)5. 'I do like the West and wish it would stop declining': Lionel Trilling (1905-1975)6. The Secular Wood: James Wood (1965- )PostscriptBibliographyIndex.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781623563738

1623563739

9781623569310

1623569311

OCLC:

849207734

Online:

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