Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick was one of the most significant literary theorists of the last forty years and a key figure in contemporary queer theory. In this engaging and inspiring guide, Jason Edwards:

• introduces and explains key terms such as affects, the first person, homosocialities, and queer taxonomies, performativities and cusps
• considers Sedgwick s poetry and textile art alongside her theoretical texts
• encourages a personal as well as an academic response to Sedgwick s work, suggesting how life-changing it can be
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Best known for his theories of ethics and responsibility, Emmanuel Levinas was one of the most profound and influential thinkers of the last century. In this clear, accessible guide, Sean Hand examines why Levinas is increasingly fundamental to the study of literature and culture today. Exploring the intellectual and social contexts of his work and the events that shaped it, Hand considers:

• the influence of phenomenology and Judaism on Levinas s thought
• key concepts such as the face, the other, ethical consciousness and responsibility
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A critical figure in twentieth-century literature and philosophy, Jean-Paul Sartre changed the course of critical thought, and claimed a new, important role for the intellectual.

Christine Daigle sets Sartre s thought in context, and considers a number of key ideas in detail, charting their impact and continuing influence, including:

• Sartre s theories of consciousness, being and freedom as outlined in Being and Nothingness and other texts
• the ethics of authenticity and absolute responsibility
• concrete relations, sexual...

informative, succint, circumspect; an exacting introduction to Leavis as an incisive master critic. Ideal for today s students and general readers Chris Terry, Times Higher Education

F.R. Leavis is a landmark figure in twentieth-century literary criticism and theory. His outspoken and confrontational work has often divided opinion and continues to generate interest as students and critics revisit his highly influential texts.

Looking closely at a representative selection of Leavis s work, Richard Storer outlines his thinking on key topics...

Giorgio Agamben is one of the most important and controversial figures in continental philosophy and critical theory. Agamben’s work explores the intertwining of law, language, aesthetics and politics, most recently theorizing contemporary political situations through analysis of the ‘war on terror’.

Alex Murray explains Agamben’s key ideas, including:

• an overview of his work from his first publication to the present
• clear analysis of Agamben’s philosophy of language and life
• ethics and ‘witnessing’,...

Hans-Georg Gadamer s theory of hermeneutics is one of the most important modern theories of reading, offering both a framework for understanding the practice and a method for its interpretation. In this clear and comprehensive guide to Gadamer s thought, Karl Simms:

• presents an overview of his life and works, outlining his importance to phenomenological theory and its place in literary studies
• explains and puts into context his key ideas, including the importance of symbol and festival to his work on beauty
• provides a guide to the practical application of...

Hans-Georg Gadamer's theory of hermeneutics is one of the most important modern theories of interpretation and understanding, and at its heart is the experience of reading literature. In this clear and comprehensive guide to Gadamer's thought, Karl Simms:

• presents an overview of Gadamer's life and works, outlining his importance to hermeneutic theory and its place in literary studies
• explains and puts into context his key ideas, including 'dialogue', 'phronēsis', 'play', 'tradition', and 'horizon'
• shows how Gadamer's ideas have been influential in the...