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The Metropolitan Critic
The first book from bestselling literary critic, author and television and radio presenter Clive James CBE, reissued with a set of self-critical humorous footnotes
- GenresNonfiction
322 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
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About the author
Clive James
94 books289 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
An expatriate Australian broadcast personality and author of cultural criticism, memoir, fiction, travelogue and poetry. Translator of Dante.
An expatriate Australian broadcast personality and author of cultural criticism, memoir, fiction, travelogue and poetry. Translator of Dante.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 23, 2021
Brilliantly written. As always, I learned an awful lot.
October 14, 2022
I like to re-visit Clive James' criticism periodically to show me how it should be done. This, originally published in 1974, was the first collection of his criticism - mainly literary but with the occasional wonder into more opinion style work. This is a later edition where James has written his later thoughts on those earlier columns.
He's quite critical of his own work. Indeed these passages are brilliant for a would be critic to read. They focus both on the basics - use of language for example - to broader points. He is, for example, very fond of an untranslated quote in the originals, which he points out you'd never be allowed to do in modern reviews.
I like Clive James' writing because he treats high and low culture with equal respect when writing criticism. He can, on occasion, come across like something of a smart arse and his ego is there to be seen - something he freely admits to. But his work at its best is a joy to read even when dealing with complicated issues and ideas.
I'll admit that a lot of the subjects in this book aren't entirely my cup of tea, but that's always a difficulty with collected criticism. If you're not too bothered about a particular writer then it isn't the most exciting of reads.
However, worth it to learn more about how to write criticism.
He's quite critical of his own work. Indeed these passages are brilliant for a would be critic to read. They focus both on the basics - use of language for example - to broader points. He is, for example, very fond of an untranslated quote in the originals, which he points out you'd never be allowed to do in modern reviews.
I like Clive James' writing because he treats high and low culture with equal respect when writing criticism. He can, on occasion, come across like something of a smart arse and his ego is there to be seen - something he freely admits to. But his work at its best is a joy to read even when dealing with complicated issues and ideas.
I'll admit that a lot of the subjects in this book aren't entirely my cup of tea, but that's always a difficulty with collected criticism. If you're not too bothered about a particular writer then it isn't the most exciting of reads.
However, worth it to learn more about how to write criticism.
September 14, 2025
Clive James first book in 1972 - a collection of serious literary criticism was far too intellectual for me - I found some pieces accessible
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews