Terry eagleton is a literary scholar, cultural theorist, and prolific author in england who, working from irishcatholic roots, has argued the merits of a populist marxism as an alternative to postmodern theory and institutional christianity. Eagletons judgements on individual critics are sharp and illuminating, which his general argument raises crucial questions about the relations between language, literature and politics. An englishmans view of america 20 in pdf, epub formats. The work elucidated the emerging literary theory of the period, as well as arguing that all literary theory is necessarily political. Terry eagleton terry eagleton biography poem hunter. There have been various attempts to define literature. Terry eagleton has many interesting observations to make on us culture, society and politics. This classic work covers all of the major movements in literary studies in this century. In this accessible, delightfully entertaining book, terry eagleton addresses these intriguing questions and a host of others. Here, in a book written for both newcomers to the topic and those already familiar with the debate, terry eagleton unravels the many different definitions of ideology, and explores the concepts tortuous history from the enlightenment to postmodernism. The ten books of terry eagleton yale university press london. As a public intellectual, eagleton gained prominence for his trenchant criticism of the new atheism as naive and of the highly intellectualized.
After more than 40 books, the prolific professor is asking the wrong questions. An introduction still conjures the subversion, excitement and exoticism that characterized theory through the 1960s and 70s. Antiphilosophy, declares richard rorty, is more unprofessional, funnier, more allusive, sexier, and above all more written than conventional. Across the pond and how to read literature by terry. Aug 26, 2016 in june of this year, as i was enthralled by terry eagletons new culture, i received word of tungas relatively sudden and unexpected death, at age 64, from cancer, in rio on june 6, my birthday. In this new edition of his groundbreaking treatise on literary theory, eagleton seeks to develop a sophisticated relationship. Terry eagleton is john edward taylor professor of english literature at the university of manchester. Terry eagleton has many interesting observations to make on us culture, society and politi. Terry eagleton on a banal and impudent argument for the uses of religion. The idea of the tragic 2002, the bestselling text literary theory. Terry eagleton looks at future thinking and concludes that our system is run by dreamers who call themselves realists. After a distinguished career, the literary theorist goes back to the drawing board and poses the fundamental question, what is literature.
The book explores fundamental broader questions of literature narrative, character, interpretation, value with skill and verve, sketching out the historical development of varying conceptions of literature from the renaissance to postmodernism. The volume also includes eagletons brilliant reading of conrads the secret agent. He has written about 50 books including shakespeare and society, criticism and ideology, the ideology of the aesthetic, literary theory, the illusions of postmodernism, why marx was right, the event of literature, and across the pond. The real treat, of course, would be to have this terry eagleton give us an analysis of the terry eagleton who writes milton blake and shelley will smash the ruling class yet. It is the unfortunate influence of slavoj zizek that otherwise serious thinkers feel the need to make gratuitous pop culture references to appear relevant.
Against the grain is an excellent introduction to the range of terry eagletons thought and his considerable body of work. Terry eagleton, one of our foremost literary and cultural critics, is uniquely poised to take on the challenge. Eagleton shows attention to the nuances of language, but this is much more than a guide to close reading. Februar 1943 in salford ist ein britischer marxistischer literaturtheoretiker. Against the grain is an excellent introduction to the range of terry eagleton s thought and his considerable body of work. It details the problems of the aging ideas of postmodernism and critical theory. Hes often insightful, but his attempt at wit often comes across as forced and heavy handed. After a distinguished career, the literary theorist goes back to the drawing board and poses the fundamental question.
Jan 12, 2012 terry eagleton on a banal and impudent argument for the uses of religion. An introduction 1983, which has sold over 750,000 copies. His witty and acerbic attacks on contemporary culture and society are read and enjoyed by many, and his studies of literature are regarded as classics of contemporary criticism. Whats wrong with a bit of nostalgia between friends. On the one hand, eagleton demolishes what he calls the. Explore books by terry eagleton with our selection at.
The connection with eagleton therefore was reinforced, and forever will be, at least in my mind. The volume also includes eagleton s brilliant reading of conrads the secret agent. He is currently distinguished professor of english literature at lancaster university. Heres a run down of all ten of eagletons books from yale, with a whole host of reasons why you should add them to your to be read pile terry. His thought is redneck, yours is doctrinal and mine is deliciously supple. Jan 22, 2020 prolific literary critic terry eagleton tries to explain how, but doesnt tell why, we shouldnt read about vacuum cleaners in how to read literature. One of walter benjamins extraordinary achievements, for example, was to make a kind of revolutionary virtue out of a certain concept of looking back, or nostalgia.
It is also a useful primer for all readers interested in the vitality of literary theory today. God is back by john micklethwait and adrian wooldridge and reason, faith and revolution by terry eagleton despite the vocal objections of crusading atheists, religion is a resurgent force. Pdf criticism and ideology download read online free. Books by terry eagleton author of literary theory goodreads. Galileo had a craving for celebrity and was an inveterate social climber. Defining culture and pinpointing its role in our lives is not, however, so straightforward. How to read literature is the book of choice for students new to the study of literature and for all other readers interested in deepening their understanding and enriching their reading experience. On the one hand, eagleton demolishes what he calls the superstitious view of god held by most atheists and.
Terry eagleton isnt a goodreads author, but he does have a blog, so here are some recent posts imported from his feed. A reader is designed to give both students and lecturers a sense of the historical formation of a marxist literary tradition. Terry eagleton is one of the most importantand most radicaltheorists writing today. He claims that because literature is ultimately based upon social constructs. Terry eagleton is one of the most influential contemporary literary theorists and critics. A study of ethics 2009, and the forthcoming on evil 2010. Terry eagleton books list of books by author terry eagleton.
I dont know a book that better describes the way that, as terry eagleton put it, capitalism plunders the sensuality of the body. Sharp and concise, it is, without doubt, the most important work on literary criticism that has emerged out of the tradition of marxist philosophy and social theory since the nineteenth century. Theres a good deal of nostalgia in your new book, the task of the critic, for the socialist culture of the seventies. His catholicism used to be obscured by his marxism, but, as he has aged, his religiousness. Terry eagleton has 107 books on goodreads with 65702 ratings. One of our most influential literary critics challenges those who too easily dismiss religion and faith terry eagleton s witty and polemical reason, faith, and revolution is bound to cause a stir among scientists, theologians, people of faith and people of no faith, as well as general readers eager to understand the god debate. Terence francis eagleton fba is a british literary theorist, critic, and public intellectual. The contradictions of terry eagleton by roger kimball. Prolific to the limits of comprehension, terry eagleton writes books like dickens published installments. Terry eagletons most popular book is literary theory.
Hes written over 40 books, including literary theory. His views are particularly explosive because they threaten the way many professors have gotten their phds. On the twentyfifth anniversary of literary theorys debut, terry eagleton reflects on the state of. See all books authored by terry eagleton, including literary theory. Terence francis terry eagleton born 22 february 1943 is an english literary theorist and critic, widely regarded as the united kingdoms most influential living liter. How to read a poem by terry eagleton english news portal. The function of criticism is nothing less than a history and critique of the critical institution itself. Terry eagleton is a marxist catholic literary theorist, who taught english for many years at oxford.
If there is such a thing as literary theory, then it would seem obvious that there is something called literature which it is the theory of. His diverse body of work has been crucial to developments in cultural theory and literary critical practice in modern times, and for a generation of humanities students his writing has been a. An introduction, and why marx was right, and more on. I think nostalgia sometimes gets too much of a bad press. Noted for its clear, engaging style and unpretentious treatment, literary theory has become the introduction of choice for anyone interested in learning about the world of contemporary literary thought. Ideology has never been so much in evidence as a fact and so little understood as a concept as it is today. In a book designed both for newcomers to the topic and for those already familiar with the debates, terry eagleton unravels the many different meanings of ideology, and charts the history of the concept from the enlightenment to postmodernism.
From the left it can often be seen as the exclusive property of ruling classes, and from the right as an arid and totalizing exception to their own common sense. In an age marked by sharp ideological conflict, many postmodernists have declared ideology dead. Terry eagleton is a british literary theorist, critic and public intellectual. The phrase the meaning of life for many seems a quaint notion fit for satirical mauling by monty python or douglas adams. He writes too fast to be taken seriously all the time, which means some of his work gets. Terry eagletons witty and polemical reason, faith, and revolution is bound to cause a stir among scientists, theologians, people of faith and people of no faith, as well as general readers eager to understand the god debate.
His numerous books include the pdf meaning of life, how to read a poem, and after theory. To explore this paradox, marxist critic eagleton analyzes the slippery and often contradictory. Prolific literary critic terry eagleton tries to explain how, but doesnt tell why, we shouldnt read about vacuum cleaners in how to read literature. Terry eagleton is distinguished visiting professor of english literature at lancaster university and the author of more than fifty books in the fields of literary theory, postmodernism, politics, ideology, and religion. But in this spirited, stimulating, and quirky enquiry, famed critic terry eagleton takes a serious if often amusing look at the question and offers his own surprising answer. A unique compilation of principal texts in that tradition, it offers the reader new ways of reading marxism, literature, theory. Yet, though the book is full of such titbits, there is a seriousness at its heart. In june of this year, as i was enthralled by terry eagletons new culture, i received word of tungas relatively sudden and unexpected death, at age 64, from cancer, in rio on june 6, my birthday. In the modern world, ideology has never before been so much in evidence as a fact and so little understood as a concept. Terry eagleton, one of the foremost critics of our generation, has some answers in this wonderfully clear and readable analysis. An introduction 1983, 1996, 2008, trouble with strangers. It may sound like saying that ireland is deficient in realism in the same way that a nation might be deficient in hospitality or human rights. An introduction, which has sold over 750,000 copies. What is a perfect society, and whats the best kind of utopianism.
Culture is a defining aspect of what it means to be human. Eagleton has published over forty books, but remains best known for literary theory. The contradictions of terry eagleton the new criterion. Terry eagleton, 2 december 2004 ireland has less of a tradition of literary realism than england, though for an english critic to say so may require a degree of diplomacy. Terry eagleton is the author of many books including the idea of culture 2000, sweet violence. Terry eagleton wants readers to put the emphasis on the writing, not the plot. Terry eagleton has 102 books on goodreads with 60943 ratings. Theory has, in short, become boringly predictable to many people who were once enthusiastic about it, and that after theory is most interesting when its focus is furthest from its nominal subject is perhaps evidence that terry eagleton is now bored by it too. A catholic turned marxist from a workingclass background, terry eagleton was an influential english don and active militant at the heart of. After a distinguished career, the literary theorist goes back to the drawing board and poses the fundamental. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. As is generally the case with the later eagleton, the book is often funny, and it is trying hard to be funny slightly more often than that. Terry eagleton author of literary theory goodreads.
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