Pleasures of Reading in an Ideological Age

From one of our premier literary scholars here is a learned and witty introduction to the sheer vitality of literature and the satisfactions of a close informed engagement with it (New York Times). Robert Alters illumination of the unique power of reading literature is especially valuable at a time when we are surrounded by electronic texts that distract more than engage and when the special claims of literature are disparaged by the high priests of literary theory. Alter explores the strategies that distinguish literaturethe resources of style the dynamics of allusion the formal design of structure the play of perspective in narrative. He draws on copious examples from the great works of literary artfrom the Book of Genesis to Shakespeare Conrad and Nabokovto illustrate his analysis of what makes reading a source of complex pleasure and insight.