A Reader's Guide to Contemporary Literary Theory (5th Edition) [Paperback]

Raman Selden (Author), Peter Widdowson (Author), Peter Brooker (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0582894107 | ISBN-13: 978-0582894105 | Publication Date: June 20, 2005 | Edition: 5

A classic introduction to the ever-evolving field of modern literary theory, now in an expanded and updated edition.

• Considers 'New Aestheticism' and engages with the ideas of 'Post-Theory'
• Contains extensive guides to further reading, web and electronic resources to ensure the quality of students' research
• A glossary defines key theoretical and critical terms
• Contains a guide to relevant journals

 

 

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This 4th edition aims to retain the valuable features of the original book; brevity, even coverage of the main literary theories and useful further readings and bibliographies. At the same time the new edition adds new material on 'contemporary' literary theories, such as: cultural materialism, post-colonial theory, feminist theory, Black British, African-American, Asian, Caribbean theory, and Gay and Lesbian theory. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Peter Widdowson is Professor of Literature at the University of Gloucester.  Peter Brooker is Professor of Modern Literature and Culture at University College, Northampton.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Longman; 5 edition (June 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0582894107
• ISBN-13: 978-0582894105
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #323,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent intro to literary theory, April 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Reader's Guide to Contemporary Literary Theory (Paperback)

This book is a must for any student of literature. It gives a brief but always clear description of all the major theories of contemporary criticism (except the myth criticism of Frye and Jung, which prevents my giving the book a five). Topics covered include New Criticism, Marxism, Russian Formalism, Structuralism, Poststructuralism, Psychoanalysis, New Historicism, Cultural Materialism, Feminism, Post-Colonialism, and Queer Theory. A study of these theories will help any student increase their appreciation for and understanding of literature and literary theory. The book, however, only covers the theories in their theoretical context and not in their practical applications to literature. That is covered in the companion book A Reader's Guide. The theories are covered in relation to the major theorists behind them (Leavis, Bakhtin, Todorov, Derrida, DeMan, Barthes, Lacan, Kristeva, Foucault, etc.)

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful supplement to primary theory readings, March 17, 2002

By 

Rev. Cherrycoke (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Reader's Guide to Contemporary Literary Theory (Paperback)

For some years I have used this book, in a number of its editions, as one of the texts in my college upper-division literary theory class. Each edition is better and more inclusive than the last. Selden sorts out literary theory into its logical categories (New Criticism, structuralism, poststructuralism, cultural theories). Chapters provide useful, clearly written, and accurate summaries of fields/schools/movements and brief summaries of the works and contributions of major theorists in each. The book works particularly well in a twentieth-century theory class in conjunction with a reader in primary theory, such as the wonderful Norton Anthology of Critical Theory (first published in 2001) and a glossary of critical terms (such as the terrifically useful Oxford Dictionary of Literary Theory). My students consistently end up liking Selden's book; they usually comment on how clearly it lays out major ideas in each theoretical camp and how it helps them to read the difficult primary texts by powerhouses such as Marx, Derrida, Foucault, Cixous. The companion reader is ok, but not as useful as this summary of theoretical positions.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great to return to again and again for insight, May 12, 2006

By 

skeptical of both sides (Ganymede) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Reader's Guide to Contemporary Literary Theory (5th Edition) (Paperback)

It is easy to fault any discussion of literary theory for being unclear or full of jargon. This book is clear in its explanations, and is as unbiased as it gets, given the subject and terminology. We should not confuse a subject full of obscurities and difficulties with the book that tries to explain them. This book is very basic and simple, (although it could seem difficult for a beginner), but I've found that literary theory takes a long time to really understand and there are many texts that one should know if one is to read widely in the subject. This book has been great to return to at various stages of my understanding and reading over the years. An indispensable, basic tool.