Beginning theory (third edition): An introduction to literary and cultural theory (Beginnings)

This 3rd edition(2009) is an accessible and intellectually stimulating introduction to literary and cultural theory.After a brief illuminating introduction there are 15 chapters on 'Theory before 'theory''; 'Structuralism'; 'Post-structuralism and deconstruction'; 'Postmodernism'; 'Psychoanalytic criticism'; 'Feminist criticism'; 'Lesbian/gay criticism'; 'Marxist criticism'; 'New historicism and cultural materialism'; 'Postcolonial criticism'; 'Stylistics'; 'Narratology'; 'Ecocriticism'; 'Literary theory - a history in ten events'; 'Theory after 'theory''.The book concludes with appendices and a further reading list.'Beginning Theory' is a clearly written and comprehensive guide to an often abstruse subject which should appeal to the interested general reader as well as students of literary and cultural studies.

Fantastic guide to theory, esp. Would recommend to english undergrads. If, like myself when I was in my third year, the criticism and theory classes go far too fast with way too much packed into them, this book will definitely be of help to you. I had a lecturer who obviously knew alot about the different theories, however she was unable to teach it in a way that made it possible for us undergraduates to easily digest, so this book helped a lot!

This book is great!I had to buy it for a class, and it offers a clear breakdown of the theories and issues surrounding them. It also relates these theories and issues to well-known books and poetry that people should hopefully know, in order to get points across and to give examples of the theories in practice. The language is really clear on the most part, so you don't have to spend ages faffing around trying to figure out what the author originally meant.

Very fast turn around. Book was in pristine condition. I was surprised as this book was considerably cheaper from this vendor than others so I had thought that perhaps this would be a Bangalore special where the paper quality was poor, print would be gray, dust between the pages etc. (After living in Bangalore and seeing books like this I recognise them quickly.) However this was nothing like that. Clean white pages and solid dark ink, no blurring or any other signs of an inferior print.Excellent value and thoroughly recommended.

An excellent basis on which to base further knowledge. A thoroughly good introduction to a lot of topics and themed

bought for daughter at uni

Excellent book really helped with my Critical Theory module at university, easy to understand explains theory's in plain English.

This is an excellent introduction to and overview of critical theory. You can use it to either jump in and read a chapter on an area of interest but it also works as a comprehensive and coherent history of critical thought if you read the whole thing through from page one. Highly recommended.