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Literary Criticism from Plato to Post-Theory: An Introduction by M. A. R. Habib (University of Oxford) at Abbey's Bookshop,
Literary Criticism from Plato to Post-Theory: An Introduction
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M. A. R. Habib (University of Oxford)

Literary Criticism from Plato to Post-Theory

An Introduction

M. A. R. Habib (University of Oxford)

$78.95

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English
Wiley-Blackwell
10 January 2026
Literary theory
Provides a comprehensive account of the evolution of literary criticism from antiquity to the present

Spanning more than two millennia of intellectual history, Literary Criticism from Plato to Post-Theory: An Introduction offers the most thorough and accessible survey of Western literary theory available today. M.A.R. Habib presents a lucid and detailed chronological account of key movements, texts, and thinkers—from Plato and Aristotle to posthumanism and digital studies—making complex ideas intelligible without sacrificing scholarly rigor. This second edition is expanded to address the rapidly evolving landscape of contemporary criticism, including new and revised chapters on affect theory, cognitive literary studies, gender theory, world literature, and digital humanities.

For students and scholars of literature, theory, and cultural studies, Literary Criticism from Plato to Post-Theory provides indispensable insight into how literary criticism has responded to—and helped shape—major intellectual and political developments throughout history. With clear attention to philosophical foundations and cultural context, Habib explores not just what key theorists believed, but why their ideas emerged when they did and how they continue to resonate today.

Enabling readers to trace the deep roots and dynamic shifts in literary thought with clarity and critical depth, Literary Criticism from Plato to Post-Theory:

Situates literary theory within historical and philosophical developments across cultures and eras Emphasizes contextualization, helping readers understand criticism in relation to its time and place Introduces lesser-known thinkers alongside canonical figures, offering a broad intellectual spectrum Highlights the connections between literary criticism and political, cultural, and social change Bridges classical traditions and emerging technologies/ media in literary analysis Encourages close textual reading while maintaining attention to philosophical underpinnings

Ideal for use alongside anthologies or as a stand alone text, Literary Criticism from Plato to Post-Theory: An Introduction, Second Edition remains a foundational resource for understanding the traditions and transformations of literary criticism. It is ideal for undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in English, comparative literature, cultural studies, or critical theory. It is particularly suited to core courses such as Introduction to Literary Theory, Foundations of Criticism, and World Literature in English, Liberal Arts, and Interdisciplinary Humanities programs.
By:  
Imprint:   Wiley-Blackwell
Country of Publication:   United States
Edition:   2nd edition
Dimensions:   Height: 226mm,  Width: 152mm,  Spine: 25mm
Weight:   522g
ISBN:   9781394188871
ISBN 10:   1394188870
Pages:   400
Publication Date:  
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 Part I Classical Literary Criticism and Rhetoric 7 Part II The Medieval Era 47 Part III The Early Modern Period to the Enlightenment 77 Part IV Romanticism and the Later Nineteenth Century 143 Part V The Twentieth Century: A Brief Introduction 189 Part VI The Twenty-First Century: A Brief Introduction

M. A. R. HABIB is Distinguished Professor of English at Rutgers University and a leading scholar in literary criticism, philosophy, and translation. He is the author of Hegel and the Foundations of Literary Theory, Hegel and Empire: From Postcolonialism to Globalism, and Literary Studies: A Norton Guide. Habib has edited The Cambridge History of Literary Criticism: Volume VI and the Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory. His work also includes several translations of Urdu poetry and Islamic texts.

Reviews for Literary Criticism from Plato to Post-Theory: An Introduction

Habib has an unrivaled ability to synthesize complex doctrines in clear and lively prose, hence this perfectly balanced introduction to literary criticism – a must-read for all students in the humanities. Jean-Michel Rabaté, University of Pennsylvania, American Academy of Arts and Sciences Literary Criticism from Plato to Post-Theory accomplishes the nearly impossible in being both concise and exhaustive; it works as a book of reference, a history of philosophy, and a lucid scholarly argument for the value of literature. Habib traces the history of literary criticism through six major periods, whose features are described in succinct yet nuanced detail with illuminating commentary on chief philosophers, theorists, and poets. In every chapter, but most urgently in the last one addressing our present times, Habib’s careful analysis of material contexts, philosophical concepts, and literary texts confirms that all new theories have long histories, that no discovery is without antecedents, that judgments, tastes, and values are never autonomous. Clear and wonderfully readable, Habib’s book is as engrossing as it is convincing. Harold Schweizer, author of On Waiting and On Lingering and Literature


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