Publisher Description

In the nineteenth century, literary criticism first developed into an autonomous, professional discipline in the universities. This volume provides a comprehensive and authoritative study of the vast field of literary criticism between 1830 and 1914. In over thirty essays written from a broad range of perspectives, international scholars examine the growth of literary criticism as an institution, the major critical developments in diverse national traditions and in different genres, as well as the major movements of realism, naturalism, symbolism and decadence. The History offers a detailed focus on some of the era's great critical figures such as Sainte-Beuve, Hippolyte Taine and Matthew Arnold; and it includes essays devoted to the connections of literary criticism with other disciplines in science, the arts and Biblical studies. The publication of this volume marks the completion of the monumental Cambridge History of Literary Criticism from antiquity to the present day.

Author Biography

M. A. R. Habib is Professor of English at Rutgers University. He is the author of seven books, including A History of Literary Criticism: From Plato to the Present (2005), Modern Literary Criticism and Theory: A History (2007) and An Anthology of Modern Urdu Poetry (2003).

Table of Contents

Introduction M. A. R. Habib; Part I. Literary Criticism as an Institution: 1. Contexts and conditions of literary criticism: 1830-1914 Joanne Shattock; 2. Literary studies and the academy David Goldie; 3. Women and literary criticism Kimberly Vanesveld Adams; Part II. National Developments in Literary Criticism: 4. Literature and nationalism Julia Wright; 5. Germany: from Restoration to consolidation: Classical and Romantic legacies Willi Goetschel; 6. France: the continuing debate over Classicism Allan Pasco; 7. England: Romantic legacies Stephen Prickett; 8. England: literature and culture James Najarian; 9. Literary nationalism and US Romantic aesthetics David Van Leer; 10. Russia: literature and society Edith Clowes; Part III. Critical Movements and Patterns of Influence: 11. Literary autonomy: the growth of a modern concept Harold Schweizer; 12. Hegel's aesthetics and their influence M. A. R. Habib; 13. Marx, Engels and early Marxist criticism Macdonald Daly; Part IV. Later Nineteenth-Century Developments: Realism, Naturalism, Symbolism and Decadence: 14. Realism, Naturalism and Symbolism in France Rosemary Lloyd; 15. Symbolism and Realism in Germany Martin Swales; 16. Nineteenth-century British critics of Realism Elaine Freedgood; 17. American literary Realism Carol Singley; 18. Decadence and fin de siecle Ray Furness; 19. The avant-garde in early twentieth-century Europe Roger Cardinal; Part V. Some Major Critics of the Period: 20. Charles-Augustin Sainte-Beuve (1804-69) Wolf Lepenies; 21. Hippolyte Taine (1828-93) Hilary Nias; 22. Francesco De Sanctis (1817-83) Renate Holub; 23. Matthew Arnold (1822-88) Clinton Machann; 24. Henry James (1843-1916) Donald David Stone; 25. George Brandes (1842-1927) Paul Houe; Part VI. Genre Criticism: 26. Theories of genre Steven Monte; 27 Theories of the novel Nicholas Dames; 28. Theories of poetry John Kerkering; 29. Theories of drama John Osborne; Part VII. Literature and Other Disciplines: 30. Literary criticism and models of science Gregory Moore; 31. Literature and the arts Beth Wright; 32. Biblical scholarship and literary criticism David Jeffrey; Select bibliography and further reading; Index.

Review

'... a model of how to present sharp, original thinking without scanting the responsibility to provide a usable map ... This volume provides a series of helpful starting points for exploring the range of thinking about literature that [the] extraordinary growth in critical writing helped to stimulate.' Stefan Collini, Modern Philology '... this volume clearly serves its purpose as a landmark for the multiple theoretical and practical issues that shaped nineteenth-century criticism within various national contexts ...' Usha Wilbers, English Studies "... a model of how to present sharp, original thinking without scanting the responsibility to provide a usable map ... This volume provides a series of helpful starting points for exploring the range of thinking about literature that [the] extraordinary growth in critical writing helped to stimulate."
Stefan Collini, Modern Philology '... this volume clearly serves its purpose as a landmark for the multiple theoretical and practical issues that shaped nineteenth-century criticism within various national contexts ...' Usha Wilbers, English Studies

Review Quote

"... a model of how to present sharp, original thinking without scanting the responsibility to provide a usable map ... This volume provides a series of helpful starting points for exploring the range of thinking about literature that [the] extraordinary growth in critical writing helped to stimulate." Stefan Collini, Modern Philology

Promotional "Headline"

A lucid account of the vast field of literary criticism from 1830 to 1914.

Description for Bookstore

Over thirty essays examine the growth of literary criticism as an institution, the major critical developments in diverse national traditions and genres, and the era's great critical figures. The publication of this volume marks the completion of the monumental Cambridge History of Literary Criticism from antiquity to the present day.

Description for Library

Over thirty essays examine the growth of literary criticism as an institution, the major critical developments in diverse national traditions and genres, and the era's great critical figures. The publication of this volume marks the completion of the monumental Cambridge History of Literary Criticism from antiquity to the present day.

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