The Greatest Books in Literary Theory
Explore the greatest books in literary theory with our curated list of essential reads. Discover key works by top theorists to deepen your understanding of literature and criticism.
Book
The Act of Reading
by Wolfgang Iser
By defining what happens during the act of reading, that is, how aesthetic experience is initiated, develops, and functions, Iser's book provides the first systematic framework for assessing the communicatory function of a literary text within the context from which it arises. It is an important work that will appeal to those interested in the reading process, aesthetic theory, literary criticism, and basic theoretical aspects of the novel. Book jacket.
Book
The Rhetoric of Fiction
by Wayne C. Booth
A standard reference point in advanced discussions of how fictional form works, how authors make novels accessible, and how readers recreate texts. Its concepts and terms have become standard critical lexicon.
