While there are many courses and tutorials online, learning from a book is still one of the best ways to greatly improve your skills. Below I have selected top Literary Criticism books.
- Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice (A Second Printing) (5th Edition) (2011)
- How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Reading Between the Lines, Revised Edition (2014)
- The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism (Complete Idiot’s Guides (Lifestyle Paperback)) (2013)
- Classical Literary Criticism (Penguin Classics) (2001)
- Introducing Literary Criticism: A Graphic Guide (Introducing Graphic Guides) (2016)
- Literary Theory and Criticism: An Introduction (2015)
- Theory into Practice: An Introduction to Literary Criticism (2014)
- An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory (2016)
- Modern Criticism and Theory: A Reader (2008)
- Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction (2011)
- Classical Literary Criticism (Oxford World’s Classics) (2008)
- European History: 1450 to 1648 Essentials (Essentials Study Guides) (1990)
Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice (A Second Printing) (5th Edition) (2011)
presents the thirteen basic schools of twentieth-century literary theory and criticism in their historical and philosophical contexts. Unlike other introductions to literary criticism, this book explores the philosophical assumptions of each s…
How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Reading Between the Lines, Revised Edition (2014)
A thoroughly revised and updated edition of Thomas C. Foster’s classic guide—a lively and entertaining introduction to literature and literary basics, including symbols, themes and contexts, that shows you how to make your everyday reading experience more rewarding and enjoyable.While many books can be enjoyed for their basic stories, there are often deeper literary meanings interwoven in these texts.
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism (Complete Idiot’s Guides (Lifestyle Paperback)) (2013)
Used in colleges and college-prep courses in the US, AS/A2 prep in the UK, and by interested readers and writers everywhere. Authoritative, genuinely helpful, and just funny enough. You’ll see.Literary interpretation can be a complex topic. This lively and entertaining guide takes the intimidation out of it, offering readers a scholarly yet easy-to-follow examination of literary theory’s central arguments, key figures, and fascinating history.
Classical Literary Criticism (Penguin Classics) (2001)
This anthology brings together core classical texts for understanding literature. The selections from Plato illustrate the poetic philosopher’s surprising exclusion of poets from his ideal republic. In his response, , Aristotle draws on the works of the great Greek playwrights to defend the value of the art.
Introducing Literary Criticism: A Graphic Guide (Introducing Graphic Guides) (2016)
From Plato to Virginia Woolf, Structuralism to Practical Criticism, Introducing Literary Criticism charts the history and development of literary criticism into a rich and complex discipline.
Literary Theory and Criticism: An Introduction (2015)
Literary Theory and Criticism: An Introduction provides an accessible overview of major figures and movements in literary theory and criticism from antiquity to the twenty-first century. It is designed for students at the undergraduate level or for others needing a broad synthesis of the long history of literary theory.
Theory into Practice: An Introduction to Literary Criticism (2014)
Beginning with more accessible critical approaches and gradually introducing more challenging critical perspectives, THEORY INTO PRACTICE provides extensive step-by-step guidance for writing literary analyses.
An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory (2016)
Lively, original and highly readable, An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and Theory is the essential guide to literary studies. Starting at ‘The Beginning’ and concluding with ‘The End’, chapters range from the familiar, such as ‘Character’, ‘Narrative’ and ‘The Author’, to the more unusual, such as ‘Secrets’, ‘Pleasure’ and ‘Ghosts’.
Modern Criticism and Theory: A Reader (2008)
This third edition of Modern Criticism and Theory represents a major expansion on its previous incarnations with some twenty five new pieces or essays included. This expansion has two principal purposes. Firstly, in keeping with the collection’s aim to reflect contemporary preoccupations, the reader has expanded forward to include such newly emergent considerations as ecocriticism and post-theory.
Literary Theory: A Very Short Introduction (2011)
What is literary theory? Is there a relationship between literature and culture? These are some of questions addressed by Jonathan Culler in this new edition of his highly popular Very Short Introduction.
Classical Literary Criticism (Oxford World’s Classics) (2008)
This volume provides, in translation, the principal texts of literary criticism, including Aristotle’s Poetics, Horace’s Art of Poetry, Longinus’ on Sublimity, Tacitus’ Dialogues, and extracts from Plato and Plutarch.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World’s Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe.
European History: 1450 to 1648 Essentials (Essentials Study Guides) (1990)
REA’s Essentials provide quick and easy access to critical information in a variety of different fields, ranging from the most basic to the most advanced. As its name implies, these concise, comprehensive study guides summarize the essentials of the field covered. Essentials are helpful when preparing for exams, doing homework and will remain a lasting reference source for students, teachers, and professionals.
Best Literary Criticism Books Reviewed & Ranked
We highly recommend you to buy all paper or e-books in a legal way, for example, on Amazon. But sometimes it might be a need to dig deeper beyond the shiny book cover. Before making a purchase, you can visit resources like Library Genesis and download some literary criticism books mentioned below at your own risk. Once again, we do not host any illegal or copyrighted files, but simply give our visitors a choice and hope they will make a wise decision.
Professing Criticism : Essays on the Organization of Literary Study
Author(s): John Guillory
ID: 3661296, Publisher: University of Chicago Press, Year: 2023, Size: 648 Kb, Format: epub
Erich Auerbach and the Secular World: Literary Criticism, Historiography, Post-Colonial Theory and Beyond
Author(s): Jon Nixon
ID: 3249773, Publisher: Routledge, Year: 2022, Size: 6 Mb, Format: pdf
The Zimbabwean Maverick: Dambudzo Marechera and Utopian Thinking
Author(s): Shun Man Emily Chow-Quesada
ID: 3374483, Publisher: Routledge, Year: 2022, Size: 3 Mb, Format: pdf
Please note that this booklist is not absolute. Some books are really best-sellers according to The Wall Street Journal, others are drafted by unknown writers. On top of that, you can always find additional tutorials and courses on Coursera, Udemy or edX, for example. Are there any other relevant books you could recommend? Drop a comment if you have any feedback on the list.