The Concise Dictionary of Literary Terms (Oxford Paperback Reference) [Paperback]

Chris Baldick (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198608837 | ISBN-13: 978-0198608837 | Publication Date: June 3, 2004

Containing over 1,000 of the most troublesome literary terms encountered by students and general readers, this gem of a book gives clear and often witty explanations to terms such as hypertext, multi-accentuality, and postmodernism. The dictionary also provides extensive coverage of traditional drama, rhetoric, literary history, and textual criticism. It offers pronunciation guides and suggestions for further reading for many entries, and includes a new preface and terms that have become prominent in literature in the last few years, such as cyberpunk and antanaclasis. This second edition is the most up-to-date and accessible dictionary of literary terms available, popular with both students and teachers of literature at all levels.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`This dictionary's virtues and its plain-spokenness make it . . . as apt to the bedside table as to the desk: Dr Baldick is a Brewer for specialized tastes.' Times Literary Supplement

`a wonderful book for anyone interested in the critical discussion of literature . . . fun to read . . . first rate' Globe and Mail

`a highly readable guide' Writers' News

About the Author

Chris Baldick is Professor of English at Goldsmiths' College, University of London. He edited 'The Oxford Book of Gothic Tales' (1992), and is the author of 'In Frankenstein's Shadow' (1987), 'Criticism and Literary Theory 1890 to the Present' (1996), and other works of literary history. He has edited, with Rob Morrison, 'Tales of Terror from Blackwood's Magazine', and 'The Vampyre and Other Tales of the Macabre', and has written an introduction to Charles Maturin's 'Melmoth the Wanderer' (all available in the Oxford World's Classics series).

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 3, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198608837
• ISBN-13: 978-0198608837
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #960,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars quite useful, June 21, 2007

By 

Barbara Neves (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Concise Dictionary of Literary Terms (Oxford Paperback Reference) (Paperback)

Although this dictionary may be quite simple, it is exactly this aspect that attracts me the most. As I teach Literature in English to non native speakers of the language, it is very good to have simple and clear definitions which help the students in their researches.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Pretty much useless..., November 3, 2005

By 

Surface to Air Missle (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Concise Dictionary of Literary Terms (Oxford Paperback Reference) (Paperback)

This book should be avoided because it really lacks too many terms and thus serves no purpose. People who want a literary terms dictionary probably only want ONE since they are specific and who in their right mind wouldn't want a COMPLETE one?!?

In the preface the author even states that he only picked the most used definitions but again I ask the question why?? Another problem Baldick has is his word selection. Anybody with any business or need to pick this book up probably won't need to look up words such as: act, argument, character, climax, closure, content, etc..

I did use this book to study for the English CSET exams parts I and II and I can recommend it for that. Seeing how little there is out there to study with, I can honestly say this book did help to some degree with my preparation for the test.

Bottom Line: After perusing vairous LT dictionaries, I have come to the conclusion that going to the bookstore is the best method for choosing what you want. You probably won't want to pick this one.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Student/Teacher resource, April 14, 2008

By 

P. Garrett - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Concise Dictionary of Literary Terms (Oxford Paperback Reference) (Paperback)

Great resource for any literature class. The terms are listed in alpha order and full, yet understandable definitions are given.