The Irresponsible Self - On Laughter And The Novel

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Wry and witty exploration of literary criticism.

Recommendation: The Irresponsible Self takes a refreshing and amusing approach to critiquing literary classics. James Wood's commentary on authors like Shakespeare and Cervantes is sharp and thought-provoking, making this book an enjoyable read for anyone interested in literature and criticism.

  • National Book Critics Circle Award Nominee for Criticism (2004)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

The Irresponsible Self - On Laughter And The Novel

Regular price RM22.51 MYR
Unit price
per
ISBN: 9780374177379
Authors: James Wood
Date of Publication: 2004-06-16
Format: Hardcover
Related Collections: Creative Nonfiction, Philosophy
Related Topics: Essays
Goodreads rating: 4.12
(rated by 250 readers)

Description

James Wood's first book of essays, The Broken Estate , established him as the leading critic of his generation, one whose judgments "are distinguished by their originality and precision, the depth of reading that informs them, and the metaphorical richness of their language" ( Harper's ). Its successor, The Irresponsible Self , confirms Wood's preeminence, not only as a discerning judge but also as an appreciator of novels, with a special interest in the ways they make us laugh. In twenty-three passionate, sparkling dispatches, he defends what he calls "secular comedy"-human, tragicomic, forgiving, bound up with the very origins of the novel -against the narrower "religious comedy" of satire and farce, which is corrective, punitive, and theatrical. Ranging over such crucial comic writers as Cervantes, Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, Waugh, Bellow, and Naipaul, Wood offers a broad history of comedy while examining each chosen writer with his customary care and intense focus. This collection (which includes Wood's much-discussed attack on "hysterical realism") is indispensable reading for anyone who cares about modern fiction or criticism today.
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Similar Reads

Wry and witty exploration of literary criticism.

Recommendation: The Irresponsible Self takes a refreshing and amusing approach to critiquing literary classics. James Wood's commentary on authors like Shakespeare and Cervantes is sharp and thought-provoking, making this book an enjoyable read for anyone interested in literature and criticism.

  • National Book Critics Circle Award Nominee for Criticism (2004)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.