Sir John Falstaff

by Harold Bloom (Editor), Pamela Loos (Editor)

A critical examination of Shakespeare's character Sir John Falstaff features such contributors as Harold C. Goddard, Leo Salinger, and Northrop Frye.

180 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Harold Bloom was an American literary critic and the Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. In 2017, Bloom was called "probably the most famous literary critic in the English-speaking world." After publishing his first book in 1959, Bloom wrote more than 50 books, including over 40 books of literary criticism, several books discussing religion, and one novel. He edited hundreds of anthologies concerning numerous literary and philosophical figures for the Chelsea House publishing firm. Bloom's books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1995.
Bloom was a defender of the traditional Western canon at a time when literature departments were focusing on what he derided as the "school of resentment" (multiculturalists, feminists, Marxists, and others). He was educated at Yale University, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

Reviews

[David Kowalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the breadth of Shakespearean criticism out there, there is no shortage of finding things that will appeal to you. I mean there is no shortage of reading what you want to hear. I love Falstaff so I want to read good things about him, and there is plenty of that here. What is not here is any of your criticism against the character. Hardly surprisingly with Harold Bloom as the editor. Nevertheless I really enjoyed this and if you are interested in the history plays and in Falstaff himself this a must read gathering of brilliant essays.