Romance is a varied and fluid literary genre, notoriously difficult to define. This groundbreaking Companion surveys the many permutations of romance throughout the ages.
Considers the literary and historical development of the romance genre from its classical origins to the present day
Incorporates discussion of the changing readership of romance and of romance’s special relation to women readers
Comprises 30 essays written by leading authorities on different periods and sub-genres
Challenges the idea that the appeal of romance is exclusively escapist
Draws on a wide range of specific and influential literary examples
This monumental collection of new and recent essays from an international team of eminent scholars represents the best contemporary critical thinking relating to both literary and philosophical studies of literature.
Helpfully groups essays into the field's main sub-categories, among them ‘Relations Between Philosophy and Literature’, ‘Emotional Engagement and the Experience of Reading’, ‘Literature and the Moral Life’, and ‘Literary Language’
Offers a combination of analytical precision and literary richness
Represents an unparalleled work of reference for students and specialists alike, ideal for course use
With new entries and sensitive edits, this fifth edition places J.A. Cuddon’s indispensable dictionary firmly in the 21st Century.
Written in a clear and highly readable style
Comprehensive historical coverage extending from ancient times to the present day
Broad intellectual and cultural range
Expands on the previous edition to incorporate the most recent literary terminology
New material is particularly focused in areas such as gender studies and queer theory, post-colonial theory, post-structuralism, post-modernism, narrative theory, and cultural studies.
Existing entries have been edited to ensure that topics receive balanced treatment
The Literary Theory Toolkit offers readers a rich compendium of key terms, concepts, and arguments necessary for the study of literature in a critical-theoretical context.
Includes varied examples drawn from readily available literary texts spanning all periods and genres
Features a chapter on performance, something not usually covered in similar texts
Covers differing theories of the public sphere, ideology, power, and the social relations necessary for the understanding of approaches to literature
Literary Criticism from Plato to the Present provides a concise and authoritative overview of the development of Western literary criticism and theory from the Classical period to the present day
An indispensable and intellectually stimulating introduction to the history of literary criticism and theory
Introduces the major movements, figures, and texts of literary criticism
Provides historical context and shows the interconnections between various theories
An ideal text for all students of literature and criticism
