Author Description

From Jacques Derrida's différance to Henry James's ficelle, the vocabulary of literary theory and criticism can seem difficult if not opaque. To help remedy the average reader's bafflement, this new Third Edition of The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms provides succinct and often witty explanations of almost twelve hundred terms, covering everything from the ancient dithyramb to the contemporary dub poetry, from the popular bodice-ripper to the aristocratic masque, and from the social realism of Stalin's era to the magic realism of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Shedding light on some of the most troublesome literary terms encountered by students and general readers, this gem of a book offers increased coverage of many new coinages from modern critical and theoretical movements. It also provides extensively updated coverage of traditional drama, rhetoric, literary history, and textual criticism. Throughout, the author's emphasis is on helping readers use these terms more confidently, whether in writing or in speaking (easy-to-use pronunciation guides clarify more than 200 potentially troublesome terms). In addition, the dictionary is thoroughly cross-referenced and now offers web links accessed via a regularly updated companion website. A model reference book, The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms will prove invaluable for both general readers and literature students at all levels.