Criticism and Truth: On Method in Literary Studies

Criticism and Truth, by Jonathan Kramnick, offers a defense and celebration of the discipline of literary studies and its distinctive practice of close reading, which is a creative, immersive, and transformative writing practice that fosters a unique kind of engagement with the world. It argues that close reading is an invaluable form of humanistic expertise and that the study of literature should be defended within a multidisciplinary university.

Format: Hardback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 04 December 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

In his groundbreaking book, Criticism and Truth, Jonathan Kramnick delves into the power of close reading as a distinctive practice within literary studies. Widely recognized as the hallmark technique of literary analysis, close reading serves as a critical tool for scholars to pursue arguments, advance knowledge, and teach essential skills in English majors. However, Kramnick argues that close reading is much more than a mere technique; it is a creative, immersive, and transformative writing practice that fosters a unique engagement with the world.

Drawing from a diverse range of contemporary criticism, Kramnick challenges our understanding of fundamental literary analysis tools such as in-text quotation, summary, and other reading methods. He presents them as invaluable forms of humanistic expertise, contributing to our understanding of literature and its role in shaping our worldviews.

Criticism and Truth serves as a rallying call, advocating for the importance of literature and criticism within a multidisciplinary university. In the face of the challenges faced by the humanities in contemporary higher education, Kramnick argues that the study of literature does not need further reform but rather a defense of the work already being done and an account of why it should flourish. This book offers a vivid and portable defense of the discipline of literary studies, making it an essential read for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the power of close reading and the significance of literature in shaping our understanding of the world.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226830520