To Criticize the Critic

by T.S. Eliot

These influential essays and lectures by T.S. Eliot span nearly a half century--from 1917, when he published 'The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock, ' to 1961, four years before his death. With the luminosity and clarity of a first-rate intellect.

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, Criticism, Education, Literary Criticism, Books About Books, Classics

189 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Thomas Stearns Eliot was a poet, dramatist and literary critic. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948 "for his outstanding, pioneer contribution to present-day poetry." He wrote the poems The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, The Waste Land, The Hollow Men, Ash Wednesday, and Four Quartets; the plays Murder in the Cathedral and The Cocktail Party; and the essay Tradition and the Individual Talent. Eliot was born an American, moved to the United Kingdom in 1914 (at the age of 25), and became a British subject in 1927 at the age of 39.

See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T.S._Eliot

Reviews

[Amy Neftzger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was familiar with the poetry of T.S. Eliot, but I had not read any of his essays when I saw this book in a local store and picked it up. His points are well constructed and logical, and while some individuals may find the writing dry I enjoyed his insights. What caught my attention was how he evaluated the criteria used by art and literary critics in creating their standards. For example, a common art criticism today is that something isn't original enough. However, as Eliot points out, originality is sometimes a crutch used to compensate for lack of form or other substance in the work. In other words, the work of art should be evaluated as a whole and not on isolated criteria.

I wouldn't blindly recommend this book to readers. The content is excellent, but it will appeal to a smaller audience. If you thrive on understanding art, literature, and the standards of criticism then this is a book you will love.

[Adam Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good. The four chapters on education are the best part of the book, as well as his essay on classical education and the "man of letters."

[Nicholas]

To criticize the critic, and other writings by T. S. Eliot (1965)

[Jenny Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Så himla bra.

[Marina]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12491977

[Ygraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

"there is only good verse, bad verse and chaos."