See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

14 used & new from £4.80

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Literary Theory: An Introduction
 
 

Literary Theory: An Introduction (Paperback)

by Terry Eagleton (Author) "In eighteenth-century England, the concept of literature was not confined as it sometimes is today to 'creative' or 'imaginative' writing ..." (more)
3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


4 new from £60.45 10 used from £4.80
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 4 used & new from £12.32
Paperback 18 used & new from £0.15
Unknown Binding Order it used

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

by Jonathan Culler
4.6 out of 5 stars (7)  £5.99
An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory

An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory

by Dr Andrew Bennett
Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory (Beginnings)

Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory (Beginnings)

by Peter Barry
4.7 out of 5 stars (9)  £9.99
Mrs Dalloway (Penguin Popular Classics)

Mrs Dalloway (Penguin Popular Classics)

by Virginia Woolf
4.1 out of 5 stars (17)  £2.25
Modern Literary Theory: A Reader

Modern Literary Theory: A Reader

by Patricia Waugh
4.5 out of 5 stars (2)  £16.14
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 234 pages
  • Publisher: University of Minnesota Press; 2nd Revised edition edition (Nov 1996)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 081661251X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0816612512
  • Product Dimensions: 22.6 x 15 x 1.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 486,148 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #35 in  Books > Poetry, Drama & Criticism > History & Criticism > Key Critics > Eagleton, Terry

Product Description

Product Description
First published in 1983, "Literary Theory: An Introduction" is probably the best-selling work of literary criticism in the world today. It propelled its author to a position of such influence and controversy within the British academy that even Prince Charles once described him as 'that dreadful Terry Eagleton'. A quarter of a century on from its original publication, "Literary Theory: An Introduction" still conjures the subversion, excitement and exoticism that characterized theory through the 1960s and 70s, when it posed an unprecedented challenge to the literary establishment. Contemporary readers seeking to understand what literature is and what it is for will be inspired and entertained by Eagleton's deft synopses of the major movements in literary studies in the twentieth century.Eagleton has added a new preface to this anniversary edition to address more recent developments in literary studies, including what he describes as 'the growth of a kind of anti-theory', and the idea that literary theory has been institutionalized. Insightful and enlightening, "Literary Theory: An Introduction" remains the essential guide to the field. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher
Updated to include recent intellectual trends.
"This concise and lucid volume offers a satisfying survey of all the major theories, from structuralism in the 1960s to deconstruction today, that have made academic criticism both intriguing and off-putting to the outsider." New York Times Book Review

"The best handbook to those arcane ics and isms, both for academy members and for any civilians who, having heard the distant roar of professorial cannons, might wonder what the skirmishing's about." Voice Literary Supplement

"Literary Theory has the kind of racy readibility that one associates more often with English critics who have set their faces resolutely against theory. . . . It's not just a brilliant polemical essay, it's also a remarkable feat of condensation, explication, and synthesis. I haven't read anything in the field of literary theory that was at the same time so stimulating and so entertaining since the Polemical Introduction to Northrup Frye's Anatomy of Criticism." London Sunday Times

"A brilliant, agile performance: urgent and racy, witty and combative, lucid and compelling." New Statesman (UK)

"A concise guide to the most interesting and mystifying trends in the study of literature over the last fifty years." The Nation

See all Product Description


Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
In eighteenth-century England, the concept of literature was not confined as it sometimes is today to 'creative' or 'imaginative' writing. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
lit theory
philosophy
theory
terry eagleton
semiotics

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?


 

Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.9 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars The marxist view on a simple explanation, 3 April 1999
By A Customer
Usually, it is hard to find books about literary theory that give an easy point of view to nonacademic readers. Eagleton achieves a simple yet complete explanation of the main literary theories of 20th. century. Even though he sustains a MArxist point of view he is able to explain and recognize the most important achievements of each current. I think the best of his ideas is that we should take a position when we talk about literature. Excellent book for beginners
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible, 9 May 2009
By Binro The Heretic "mattieboyz" (Hillsborough, Sheffield) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)      
Mainly written for students of English Language and Literry theory; this is a surprisingly accessible text, and Eagleton's style is gentle and non-threatening.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars first-rate, 7 Mar 1999
By A Customer
when i was at oxford i went to eagleton's lectures. he was as charming in person as he is in print. smooth and jargon-free--crucial qualities for a writer of an introductory text like this one, which is still the best of its kind. this said, it should be pointed out that eagleton, like most literary theorists, has a rather casual attitude towards other people's theories. that is, he likes to throw ideas around and play with them, which is fine if he actually understands the really difficult thinkers like kant or wittgenstein. but he doesn't, and to a professional what he says about these thinkers often seems a little comic.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Film Art: An Introduction
Rather helpful book for beginner film art students- covers topics from film techniques to the technicalities of film art. Read more
Published 4 months ago by E. Chua

3.0 out of 5 stars Good information...if I only knew what he was saying....
This book is very informative and has good points, but it is so excruciatingly boring that I can barely force myself to pay attention for more than a paragraph at a time... Read more
Published on 4 May 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars "The End Of English?"
"Literary Theory" is a good introduction to a dead field. That field is not merely "literary theory," a field which many have been announcing the death of... Read more
Published on 21 Dec 1998

3.0 out of 5 stars a good introduction, but with qualifications
A blurb on the back cover of my copy of this book states that it is an excellent way to introduce the reader to the main trends in literary theory "in one day. Read more
Published on 24 Mar 1998

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (1 discussion)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
The End of Literature? 0 July 2007
See all discussions...  
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]

   


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Look for similar items by subject


Feedback


A Reader's Guide to Contemporary...

A Reader's Guide...

The best of the many guides to literary theory that are currently... Read more
£17.99 £16.14

Find similar items

 

More From Terry Eagleton

Reason, Faith...

Reason, Faith, and Revolution...

"This is sure to ruffle feathers on both sides of the God debate ... Read more
£18.99 £13.49

 

A Close Shave

Philips Nivea Coolskin HS8060 Moisturizing Rotary Shaving System
For all types of hair removal, stay smooth with Amazon.co.uk.

Discover Shaving & Hair Removal

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates