Some Versions of Pastoral

by William Empson

Some Versions of Pastoral is considered a landmark of modern literary criticism. Mr. Empson sees the pastoral convention as including not only poems of shepherd life but any work "about the people but not by or for" them. Finding examples in the writing of every country and century, from Mencius to William Faulkner or Céline, he concentrates on an analysis of certain works and forms in English literature, several of them, like Alice in Wonderland , Troilus and Cressida , and proletarian novels not traditionally considered pastoral. His chapter on Milton and Bentley is a precursor of Mr. Empson’s 1961 book, Milton’s God . With virtuoso clarity and perception throughout he brings the student to a new awareness of hidden values in individual works and to the creative possibilities of the language.

Genres: Literary Criticism, Criticism, Poetry, 20th Century, Nonfiction, Essays, Writing

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1935

About the author

Sir William Empson was an English literary critic and poet.

He was widely influential for his practice of closely reading literary works, fundamental to the New Critics. Jonathan Bate has said that the three greatest English Literary critics of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries are Johnson, Hazlitt and Empson, "not least because they are the funniest".

Empson has been styled a "critic of genius" by Sir Frank Kermode, who qualified his praise by identifying willfully perverse readings of certain authors; and Harold Bloom has stated that Empson is among a handful of critics who matter most to him, because of their force and eccentricity. Empson's bluntness led to controversy both during his life and after his death, and a reputation in part also as a "licensed buffoon" (Empson's own phrase).

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing. This book was referenced in Faye Hammill's "Sophistication" and also in Harold Bloom's new book "The Anatomy of Influence." I am very interested in the themes and development of pastoral, and was hoping to learn something new in Empson's book. Didn't happen: Empson is an interesting writer, but extremely diffuse. I prefer a book with good solid arguments and clear use of evidence, and Empson provides neither here. I am sure I will return to this book at some point, but I may need to read some of his earlier books to get a better grasp of his style. As it is, I just couldn't get anything out of these essays.

[Leslie Wexler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need to read this book again after I've done some Renaissance reading. To go from Environmental ethics and Phenomenology straight to Empson is just too damn weird, leaving me with questions like whether Empson's pastoralism, as quirky as it is, belies a deeply dualistic metaphysic or whether you might align Heidegger's and Empson's proclivities for Eastern thought -Buddhism in particular?

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wide-ranging and enjoyable criticism, imaginative and fun and funny. I don't buy everything but it's well worht reading. I lost my more detailed review.

[Andrew Zimmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book I like because it reminds me of all the other books I need to go read.