A Dictionary of Critical Theory

(Hardback)

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Interest in critical theory has grown enormously since the end of the 1960s and now seems to be fully integrated into most university programmes. Leonard Orr has prepared an historical and international dictionary of the language of critical theory. He includes terms that have appeared with great frequency in the indexes to anthologies of critical theory, either general of specific to a period or school; terms that have appeared in the indexes to standard histories of criticism; schools of criticism or broad types of criticism; and key terms from foreign-language critical theory. All definitions are written from the perspective of literary critical use. The entries generally include source information. Whenever possible, the reader is referred to sources in English. Cross-references are also provided as appropriate. Whilst the majority of readers of this work will be faculty members and graduate students in English, foreign literatures, or comparative literature, the definitions are accessible enough to be useful for undergraduates and non-academics.

Reviews

its most obvious audience is professors and advanced graduate students.-ARBA
With this first dictionary of literary theory, Orr complements his own Research in Critical Theory Since 1965 (CH, Mar '90) and the several available dictionaries of literary terms. The scope is international and historical, with terms from Asian as well as European languages; the intended audience is faculty and graduate students, although the author hopes the writing will be accessible to undergraduates. Providing a clear statement of principles of compilation and an "Index of Theorists," Orr chooses his entries well and demonstrates a command of the field's bibliography....A laudable effort.-Choice
"its most obvious audience is professors and advanced graduate students."-ARBA
"With this first dictionary of literary theory, Orr complements his own Research in Critical Theory Since 1965 (CH, Mar '90) and the several available dictionaries of literary terms. The scope is international and historical, with terms from Asian as well as European languages; the intended audience is faculty and graduate students, although the author hopes the writing will be accessible to undergraduates. Providing a clear statement of principles of compilation and an "Index of Theorists," Orr chooses his entries well and demonstrates a command of the field's bibliography....A laudable effort."-Choice

Author Bio

LEONARD ORR is a member of the Department of English at Washington State University. He compiled Research in Critical Theory Since 1965: A Classified Bibliography (Greenwood Press, 1989).