Prefaces to Renaissance Literature

by Douglas Bush

Well-known work of literary criticism.

110 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

Reviews

[Christopher Rush]

Professor Bush gives us a fine selection of thoughts on Renaissance literature, the kind of thoughts that confirm, please, and satisfy (not challenge, which is great when you don't want to be challenged). Perhaps the most memorable line is his coining (to my knowledge) of "paternal objectivity," a delightful tongue-in-cheek phrase about evaluating his son's work on Shakespeare. I'd love to use it myself someday. Not a groundbreaking collection, not a disappointing collection; I'm glad I read it, as Professor Bush is often enjoyable to read, but some of his jabs at religion and religious thinking prevent me from giving it 4 stars, though I would be truly delighted if you read it and gave it 4 or more stars, even just to spite my qualms, minor and unemotional as they may be.