Literary Theory: A Reintroduction introduces the current state of theory by placing it in its social, historical, and institutional contexts.


Focuses on the period preceding the ‘theory movement’ of the 1970s and 1980s as well as the aftermath
Asks questions about how and why literary theory evolved in the 20th century
Discusses key figures such as F.R. Leavis, Raymond Williams, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Judith Butler and Alain Badiou
Examines the influence of a wide range of topics in the field, from the Cold War to the culture wars