This work investigates the intellectual legacy of William Empson, specifically focusing on his critical resistance to the concept of sacrifice in religious and literary contexts. Christopher Norris and Paul H. Fry, both established scholars in literary theory, examine Empson's complex body of work to argue that his critical methodology serves as a radical challenge to traditional moral and theological frameworks. By analyzing his major texts, the authors demonstrate how Empson utilized close reading and linguistic skepticism to dismantle entrenched cultural narratives regarding human suffering and divine retribution.

Scholars recognize this volume as a significant contribution to the study of Empson's intellectual history, particularly for its focus on his later, more controversial writings. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which assumes a high level of familiarity with both Empson's primary texts and the broader landscape of 20th-century critical theory.