Genius to Improve an Invention

<p><em>The Genius to Improve an Invention</em> derives its title from John Dryden's phrase for the British tendency to take up literary masterpieces from the past and perfect them. Distinguished literary scholar Piero Boitani adopts Dryden's notion as a framework for exploring ways in which classical and medieval texts scenes and themes have been rewritten by modern authors.</p><p>Boitani focuses on a concept of literary transition that takes into account both T.S. Eliot's idea of tradition and individual talent and Harold Bloom's anxiety of influence. In five elegant essays he examines a wide range of authors and texts including Aeschylus Sophocles Euripides Shakespeare Chaucer Voltaire Goethe Sartre Dante and Keats. Appearing for the first time in an English translation <em>The Genius to Improve an Invention</em> will appeal to anyone interested in the Western literary tradition.</p>