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Literature
Why It Matters
Series: Why It Matters
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Literature
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
This book is ideal for advanced literature students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the deeper significance and impact of literary studies.
"Despite centuries of arguments, no one can agree on what literature is, or how to study it. But, argues Eaglestone, it is precisely the open-ended nature of literature that makes it such a rewarding and useful subject of study. Literature is a living conversation which provides endless opportunities to rethink and reinterpret our world"--
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Description
‘Facts alone are wanted in life,’ exclaims Mr Gradgrind at the beginning of Dickens’ Hard Times. Literature is not about facts alone, and – despite two and a half thousand years of arguments – no one can agree on what it is, or how to study it. But, argues Robert Eaglestone, it is precisely the open-ended nature of literature that makes it such a rewarding and useful subject.
Eaglestone shows that studying literature can change who you are, turning you from a ‘reader’ into a ‘critic’: someone attuned to the ways we make meaning in our world. Literature is a living conversation which provides endless opportunities to rethink and reinterpret our societies and ourselves. With examples ranging from Sappho to Skyrim, this book shows how literature offers freer and deeper ways of thinking and being.
Series: Why It Matters
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Modern Languages
It might seem as if globalisation is making the whole world speak English. But spend time in any major city and you are likely to encounter a cornucopia of languages. Even monolingual people have different ways of speaking to their bosses or teachers, their intimate friends or their pets. And if you live in India or Nigeria, you might use...Paperback$2399Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Psychology
You are remarkable: You experience a vast range of thoughts and feelings, including falling in love, remembering last Tuesday, and contemplating the meaning of life. And you can carry out all sorts of astonishing behaviours, such as sauntering down the street, singing in falsetto, and riding a unicycle. Psychologists study every aspect of how you think, feel, and behave. Psychology...Paperback$2399Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Archaeology
History lies beneath our feet and in the landscapes around us. In contrast to the history that comes from studying texts, archaeology is the study of history through objects, monuments, and other traces of past lives: history that extends beyond the earliest writings into the deep past, revealing the varied pathways that led to the present, and the challenges—often similar...Paperback$2399Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Journalism
Despite the criticisms that have been levelled at news organisations in recent years and the many difficulties they face, journalism matters. It matters, argues Schudson, because it orients people daily in the complex and changing worlds in which they live. It matters because it offers a fact-centred, documented approach to pertinent public issues. It matters because it keeps watch on...Paperback$2399Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Theology and Religion
Graham Ward argues that the study of theology and religion, as a single academic discipline, plays a vital role in helping us to understand politics, world affairs, and the nature of humanity itself. Religion can be used to justify inhumane actions, but it also feeds dreams, inspires hopes, and shapes aspirations. By invoking a sense of wonder about the natural...Paperback$2399Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Archaeology
History lies beneath our feet and in the landscapes around us. In contrast to the history that comes from studying texts, archaeology is the study of history through objects, monuments, and other traces of past lives: history that extends beyond the earliest writings into the deep past, revealing the varied pathways that led to the present, and the challenges –...Hardback$8399Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Geography
Ever since humans sketched primitive maps in the dirt, the quest to understand our surroundings has been fundamental to our survival. Studying geography revealed that the earth was round, showed our ancestors where to plant crops, and helped them appreciate the diversity of the planet. Today, the world is changing at an unprecedented pace, as a result of rising sea...Paperback$2399Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
History
We justify our actions in the present through our understanding of the past. But we live in a time when politicians lie brazenly about historical facts and meddle with the content of history books, while media differ wildly in their reporting of the same event. Frequently, new discoveries force us to re-evaluate everything we thought we knew about the past....Paperback$2399Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Literature
‘Facts alone are wanted in life,’ exclaims Mr Gradgrind at the beginning of Dickens’ Hard Times. Literature is not about facts alone, and – despite two and a half thousand years of arguments – no one can agree on what it is, or how to study it. But, argues Robert Eaglestone, it is precisely the open-ended nature of literature that...Paperback$2399Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Philosophy
We constantly disagree with each other on issues of fundamental importance. Does God exist? Should the latest scientific findings be trusted? Are there innate psychological differences between men and women? In four lively chapters, Beebee and Rush explain philosophy’s role in addressing such questions. They consider what it means to be human, how we should engage in public debate, philosophy’s...Paperback$3599Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Anthropology
Humanity is at a crossroads. We face mounting inequality, escalating political violence, warring fundamentalisms and an environmental crisis of planetary proportions. How can we fashion a world that has room for everyone, for generations to come? What are the possibilities, in such a world, of collective human life? These are urgent questions, and no discipline is better placed to address...PaperbackSold Out
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Barbara Bleiman praises the book as a ground-breaking, essential read for advanced literature students and teachers, highlighting its clarity and enjoyment. Marina Warner lauds Eaglestone’s lucid defence of literary studies as an inspiring conversation that shapes values and offers pleasure. Michael Wood finds it a lively, persuasive manifesto that makes a compelling case for the enduring value of literature.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781509532322
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 25 January 2019
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Polity Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 15.0mm
Width: 127.0mm
Height: 185.0mm
Weight: 159g
Pages: 160
About the Author
Robert Eaglestone is Professor of Contemporary Literature and Thought at Royal Holloway, University of London.
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