Encyclopedia of Literary Critics and Criticism

The world of literary theory and criticism has recently become increasingly complex and multi-faceted: the Encyclopedia of Literary Critics and Criticism provides a comprehensive guide (historical and international) to a wide range of individual writers, critics and theorists, to major theories, and to central critical concepts. Authoritative yet accessible, the entries range from 900 to 4,000 words, and all have an up-to-date guide to further reading. Many provide a detailed discussion of a subject; others give an overview that draws together a range of themes and writers.Its scope makes the Encyclopedia unique: it includes all significant figures from Plato to the present day, and also traditions outside the Western critical canon, including, for example, those of Japanese, Chinese, Indian, and Arabic literature. Extensive indexes with more than 20,000 entries provide name, subject and title-listing information. In addition there are cross references and a chronological listing of individuals appearing in the book. These features will help readers explore themes and concepts across the whole range of entries. Entries include: Matthew Arnold; St. Augustine; Jean Baudrillard; Black literary theory and criticism; Harold Bloom; Helene Cixous; Film theory and criticism; Gay theory and criticism; hermeneutics; Gerard Manley Hopkins; Emmanuel Kant; Julia Kristeva; Popular literature; Romanticism; Edward Said; Susan Sontag; etc.