Harold Bloom's Shakespeare
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Overview
Harold Bloom is one of the most influential and controversial of contemporary Shakespeare critics. These essays examine the sources and impact of Bloom's Shakespearean criticism from a variety of theoretical and political positions. Through focused and sustained study of Bloom as literary icon and of his Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human, they address a wide range of issues, from the cultural role of Shakespeare to the ethics of literary theory and criticism. Harold Bloom's Shakespeare brings together well-known Shakespearean critics and younger voices from within the profession. Collectively, the authors of these essays provide a fresh look at literary history and suggest new directions being taken by leading literary theorists. Through the lens of contemporary opinions about the Bard, Harold Bloom's Shakespeare offers a broad understanding of the state of literary studies in our time.Synopsis
Eighteen essays from Desmet (U. of Georgia), Sawyer (East Tennessee State U.) and other scholars consider the sources and impact of Harold Bloom's Shakespearean criticism. The volume includes contributions from well known critics as well as younger writers. Topics include, for example, Bloom's promotion of a new secular humanism, his criticism of Shakespeare's characters, and his exploration of the playwright's place in literary geography. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Library Journal
Bloom's exhaustive examination of all of Shakespeare's plays, Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human, was published in 1998 to great critical acclaim and became a best seller, a rarity for a literary study. Bloom's veneration of the Bard and his dismissal of most contemporary Shakespearean criticism, however, has made him a target for scholars who do not share his opinions. This collection of 18 essays, which came about at a 2000 conference in Toronto of the Shakespeare Association of America, examines Bloom and his theories. Three of the articles praise Bloom's book, ten are opposed to most aspects of his work, and five are mixed. The essays run the gamut of present-day critical studies, ranging from historical and character perspectives to criticism with feminist or racial slants on individual plays or themes. Primarily for scholars who are fascinated by literary controversies, this book is recommended for graduate-level collections in academic libraries. Morris Hounion, New York City Technical Coll. Lib., Brooklyn Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.