Literary Theory

Literary Theory is celebrated for offering a concise and lucid survey of major theories from structuralism in the 1960s to contemporary deconstruction. The New York Times Book Review describes it as both intriguing and off-putting to the outsider.

With the racy readability often associated with English critics opposed to theory, Literary Theory is not just a brilliant polemical essay but also a remarkable feat of condensation, explication, and synthesis, according to the Sunday Times (London).

The Nation calls it "a concise guide to the most interesting and mystifying trends in the study of literature over the last fifty years."

This classic work covers all the major movements in literary studies of this century. Noted for its clear, engaging style and unpretentious treatment, Literary Theory has become the introduction of choice for anyone interested in contemporary literary thought.

On the twenty-fifth anniversary of its debut, Terry Eagleton reflects on the current state of theory in academia, the growth of antitheory (itself an intriguing theoretical subject), and its common, if problematic, place in survey coursework. He also discusses theory's continuing relevance to scholarly pursuits. In this contemporary retrospective moment, Literary Theory remains an essential initiation to the intellectually stimulating world of theoretical analysis.

Terry Eagleton is the John Edward Taylor professor of English literature at the University of Manchester. His numerous books include The Meaning of Life, How to Read a Poem, and After Theory.