Literature on trial : the emergence of critical discourse in Germany, Poland, and Russia, 1700-1800 / S. D. Chrostowska.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Analysing works by Lessing, Goethe, and Karamzin, among others, Literature on Trial brings a fresh theoretical perspective to the links between genre as a discursive strategy and socio-political life.

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CHOICE Review

In examining the role of genre in the development of literary criticism in the 18th century in Germany, Poland, and Russia, Chrostowska (York Univ., Canada) looks at the subject in the overall context of the relationship of genres of criticism and literature. So the book is also a history of criticism more broadly. The lengthy theoretical introduction provides an important framework for the book's three detailed chapters, each of which is devoted to one of the cultural-linguistic spaces. Of these, German criticism dominates with a lengthier treatment than those of Polish and Russian combined. Each chapter starts with its own introductory discussion of the general literary-critical scene and then offers a detailed critical analysis of important critical texts, seven for German, five for Polish, and four for Russian. Though the introductions are important and innovative vis-a-vis the genre of literary criticism, many readers will be more attracted to the critical readings of the individual texts. Well written, argued and documented, with numerous helpful notes and a useful bibliography, this volume merits the attention of anyone interested in literary criticism and its development. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. J. K. Fugate Kalamazoo College