Literature and Criticism

by H. Coombes

Literature and Criticism is concerned above all with the bricks and mortar of writing - words. There are chapters on Rhythm, Rhyme, Imagery, Poetic Thought, Feeling, and Diction. Both poetry and prose are discussed, and there is an appendix of passages as exercises.

The bare contents, however, give little idea of the excellence of this introduction to literary appreciation. For here is a sound and unpretentious teacher who knows how little most of us know and who can help us, without scorn or pedantry, to tell sense from nonsense, sincerity from affectation, and beauty from dead decoration.

Genres: Nonfiction, Literary Criticism, Literature

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

Reviews

[Zoonanism]

Some strong opinions about what constitutes maturity of emotion. Following which works of literature were appraised according to how indicative they were of such maturity.

[Jenny Hayes]

this book reminded me why i love studying literature!! and also how rich and beautiful the English language is. book is divided into chapters e.g. rhythm, rhyme, imagery - in each one, Coombes gives examples of good and bad writing - I would KILL to analyse poetry as well as he does! so well-evidenced and argued, thorough without being hard to follow - a delight.