Author(s): Professor Eric Downing (Editor, Contributor), Jonathan M. Hess (Editor, Contributor), Richard V. Benson (Editor), Dr Alice A. Kuzniar (Contributor), Ann Marie Rasmussen (Contributor), Christopher Wild (Contributor), Darryl J. Gless (Contributor), Gary Shapiro (Contributor), Janice Hewlett Koelb (Contributor), Professor Emeritus Jeffrey L Sammons (Contributor), Kathryn Starkey (Contributor), Dr Ruth V Gross (Contributor), Stanley Corngold (Contributor)
Publisher: Camden House
Publication Date: 17 Sept. 2012
Edition: 1st
Language: English
Print length: 306 pages
ISBN-10: 157113431X
ISBN-13: 9781571134318
Book Description
Focuses critical attention once again on the nature and process of reading, taking into account both current theory and historical investigations. Thirty years ago, when theory emerged as integral to literary studies, investigations into the nature of reading dominated academic criticism. Since then, as cultural studies and historical approaches have gained ascendancy, critical focus on reading has waned. This collection of new essays by leading scholars of German and comparative literature, inspired by the work of the long-time and influential scholar of reading Clayton Koelb, puts the study of reading back at center stage, considering current theory on reading, emotion, and affect alongside historical investigations into cultural practices of reading as they have changed over time. Topics addressed include ancient practicesof magic reading; Christian conversionary reading; the emergence of silent reading in the Middle Ages; Renaissance ekphrastic reading; homeopathy, reading and Romanticism; and German-Jewish reading cultures in the nineteenth century. The volume will be of interest to scholars and students of literary criticism, German Studies, comparative literature, and European history. Contributors: Richard V. Benson, Stanley Corngold, Eric Downing, Darryl Gless, Ruth V. Gross, Jonathan Hess, Janice Hewlett Koelb, Alice Kuzniar, Ann Marie Rasmussen, Jeffrey L. Sammons, Gary Shapiro, Kathryn Starkey, Christopher Wild. Eric Downing is Hanes Distinguished Term Professor of German, English, and Comparative Literature at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Jonathan M. Hess is Professor of German and Moses M. and Hannah L. Malkin Distinguished Term Professor of Jewish History and Culture at theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Richard V. Benson is Visiting Assistant Professor of German at Valparaiso University.
Editorial Reviews
Review
[A] collection of essays which . . . contains several pieces that deserve attention from anyone interested in the history of reading. — Ritchie Robertson ― JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN STUDIES
Each contributor takes a distinctive approach to the concept of reading . . . . The essays are rigorous, lively, and thought provoking; they do what good criticism should do — drive their audience to read (or reread) the texts examined in light of these new interpretations. Recommended [for] all libraries supporting literary studies for upper-level undergraduates and above. ―
CHOICE
Most of the essays are original and thorough, and certainly deserve close attention. Among them, Christopher Wild’s close reading of literary and autobiographical conversion episodes and their relation to the reading of codices as well as Kathryn Starkey’s explorations of medieval manuscript reading stand out. ―
MODERN LANGUAGE REVIEW
About the Author
ERIC DOWNING, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, is the guest editor of Nexus 5.
JEFFREY L. SAMMONS is Professor Emeritus, Yale University
Professor of German and Comparative Literature at the University of Texas at Arlington
Wow! eBook
