Homer

Bloom's Modern Critical Views

by Harold Bloom (Editor)

Homer, author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, is the earliest of Greek authors whose works survived. Both works are supreme models of epic poetry and have asserted a profound influence on the history of Western literature. This volume offers a complete critical portrait of Homer. This title, Homer, part of Chelsea House Publishers’ Modern Critical Views series, examines the major works of Homer through full-length critical essays by expert literary critics. In addition, this title features a short biography on Homer, a chronology of the author’s life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University.

Genres: Criticism

250 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Harold Bloom was an American literary critic and the Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. In 2017, Bloom was called "probably the most famous literary critic in the English-speaking world." After publishing his first book in 1959, Bloom wrote more than 50 books, including over 40 books of literary criticism, several books discussing religion, and one novel. He edited hundreds of anthologies concerning numerous literary and philosophical figures for the Chelsea House publishing firm. Bloom's books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1995.
Bloom was a defender of the traditional Western canon at a time when literature departments were focusing on what he derided as the "school of resentment" (multiculturalists, feminists, Marxists, and others). He was educated at Yale University, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

Reviews

[Matt McCormick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Homeric scholars may find the assembled reviews of value. The rest of are likely to be unsatisfied. The only essays I truly enjoyed were Weil's Poem of Force ( which, of course, the snooty editor Bloom disparages) and Stewart's Disguised Guest.