The Norton Anthology of Theory & Criticism Second Edition

This is a comprehensive, very well-presented anthology of theory and criticism. The selections are presented chronologically, but there is also a table of contents that arranges things in terms of different movements and schools. As with all Norton anthologies, this one s well annotated and introduced; additionally, each theorist and critic has his or her own introduction, along with a helpful primary and secondary bibliography. My only gripe is that the print is very small, enough so that I'll need to buy a pair of over-the-counter reading glasses to read through without straining. That's not a major issue, however, in an otherwise spectacular anthology of a vital subject area for any student of literature.

The best thing about this book is the short introduction to each author and their work before reading their essay(s). Inculded in this introduction is a brief summary of what you are about to read, so when you are trying to figure out what the heck Hegel is taking about when he writes "being-for-self for itself", you've already got that broken down into plain understandable terms in the introduction. Best book for literary criticism EVER!

The book was a required text for my theory class. It's a great book! Very comprehensive and understandable!I am very satisfied with the seller! It was such a pleasure to purchase this from him. He was really cooperative, considerate and good at keeping his promise. He actually saved me from getting into trouble with my professor.

It's a good anthology and if you buy it it will help you so I do recommend it. But it wastes about half of its pages on 80s postmodernism so beware of that. Leitch's introductions totally disses certain authors he disapproves of politically and is over-generous to other theorists who really aren't that important. I like N. Katherine Hayles but honestly she's not as influential as William Empson or Jacques Derrida, yet gets as much if not more page space. Leitch's introduction to Harold Bloom is very ungenerous, ignoring his importance as a theorist and seizing upon a few controversial aspects of his personality. There's a lot more here. Thomas Aquinas gets like 4 pages. This is a crime against education, really. It should almost be called "20th century cultural theory" due to its emphasis on 80s postmodern weirdos no one really reads anymore.Buy it and learn.

I purchased this book for use in a university course entitled "History of Literary Criticism and Theory". I have never been more simultaneously confused and fascinated than I am while deciphering Hegel, Marx, Aristotle, and other masters of the tradition of Western literary thought. For any serious student of English, History, Philosophy, Anthropology, or Art, this collection of works is an absolute necessity.

Academic at it's best. A wonderful collection of essays that are particularly useful for those studying English Literature. The pages are tissue thin so some care is required when using this text but because there are so many pages, thicker pages would make the book even heavier than it is.

The product and Amazon are top notch. The content begins with Plato, features Aristotle, Hume, Kant, etc. Renting this book for a summer session class on Amazon is a life savor cost wise ($12.50 I think it was vs. $30-80 if purchased).

The book itself seems worthy of the Norton name, but if you're going to mail somebody a brand new, 2,500 + page book for roughly $45.00, at least package it so it looks new when it arrives! The book wasn't structurally damaged - that is, it's certainly useable - but it didn't look at all new when opened immediately after arrival. Packaging was very, very flimsy. I don't feel like returning it, though. It seems like an excellent book. I didn't realize that reading about theory & criticism could be so enjoyable.