Rita Felski

Uses of Literature bridges the gap between literary theory and common-sense beliefs about why we read literature. Explores the diverse motives and mysteries of why we read: Offers four different ways of thinking about why we read literature - for recognition, enchantment, knowledge, and shock. Argues for a new "phenomenology" in literary studies that incorporates the historical and social dimensions...

How does a novel entice or enlist us? How does a song surprise or seduce us? Why do we bristle when a friend belittles a book we love, or fall into a funk when a favoured TV series comes to an end? What characterises the aesthetic experiences of feeling captivated by works of art? In Hooked, Rita Felski challenges the...