Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

by Harold Bloom (Editor), Benjamin Goluboff (Contributor), Terry G. Sherwood (Contributor)

A critical overview of the work features the writings of Terry G. Sherwood, Bruce E. Wallis, Barry H. Leeds, Stephen L. Tanner, and other scholars.

Genres: Classics

194 pages, Hardcover

Published November 1, 2001

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

[Silas Andrews (11:11⋆˚꩜) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ☆
It was fine??
Nothing to write home about, but it wasn't great either?
It was really interesting at times, but it also dragged on for ages (may I add, this book is just under 300 pages. For a 280 page book to have so many moments of dry, dragged-on nothingness is kind of sad)
I also just really was not motivated in any way to read this book, so that may have influenced my rating just a little, but here we are
It was fine
I'm glad I've read it though, because it's a common classic that people talk about frequently so I mean at least I know what happens in it I suppose

[Alina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where was he when I was reading every other book!? These critical interpretations helped me further my understanding of the book.

[Jim Driesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Het is een boek vol met reviews over Ken Kesey's One Flew etc. Na het lezen van One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest ben ik direct verder gegaan in dit boek. Aan de ene kant jammer omdat ik nog geen recensie had geschreven over One Flew en dat nu ook niet meer met frisse blik kan doen. Maar wat ongelofelijk gaaf om al deze reviews te lezen. Iedere auteur benaderd het boek weer vanuit een ander perspectief; de rol van de verteller, de manier waarop mannelijkheid / vrouwelijkheid worden neergezet, de relatie met Kesey's latere leven als counter culture voorman, een enkele review vergelijkt de film met het boek. Het is wel echt een boek voor liefhebbers maar dat ben ik bij dezen. Ik heb eigenlijk nog nooit echt uitgebreid literatuurkritiek gelezen, toch is dit boek erg interessant. Ik heb het boek van Kesey aandachtig gelezen maar toch gebeurt er nog zoveel meer dan je je bij zo'n eerste lezing beseft. Het lezen van dit boek helpt je om One Flew te plaatsen in de geschiedenis en te begrijpen waarom het boek nog steeds zo invloedrijk is.

[Gina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got this book by mistake. I saw the author and title that I wanted, and did not see that instead of the book, it was a book of literary criticism of the book. I basically read it out of spite and a sense of challenge, but it was a poor use of time. Too much analysis based on Freud, whether it makes sense or not, and the editor in the foreword basically admits that he doesn't respect the book, which really made him the wrong person for the project. Huffman's and Madden's pieces were probably the best, but ultimately not worth it.

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appreciated this book much more as an adult than in high school

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and engrossing from start to finish. A story that will stay with me for many years to come.