Beyond Deconstruction: The Uses and Abuses of Literary Theory

The past two decades have seen swift and radical change in the way literature is perceived and taught in this country and abroad, as numerous new schools of theory have blossomed, particularly at Yale, Johns Hopkins, and Cambridge. Intended as an introduction to these new theories, BeyondDeconstruction offers a balanced and lively overview that steers clear of technicalities as it explains, explores, and occasionally takes issue with the large movements that have followed the so-called "practical" criticism of F.R. Leavis and others. Felperin focuses on the major schools and figures of structuralism, Marxism, and deconstruction, providing readers with a clear grasp of the ideological and methodological issues involved. In its responsiveness to developments on both sides of the Atlantic and to relations and differences between them, Beyond Deconstruction provides a comprehensive and incisive introduction to the field.