کتاب خوب و جمع و جوری بود. نکته‌ی مثبتی که داشت این بود که نسبت به کتاب‌هایی که درباره مجموعه نظریات ادبی تو ایران ترجمه شده جدیدتره و حتی نظریاتی مثل سکسوالیته که تو دهه‌ی ۱۹۹۰ به وجود اومده رو در برمی‌گیره. فقط کاش مثال‌هایی از شکل نقد هم می‌زد و متن کوتاهی رو با روش‌هایی که توضیح می‌داد نقد می‌کرد. ( )

The final few chapters require proofreading. ( )

Excellent, clear overview of a wide range of theories. ( )

An exhaustive look at the foundations of literary theory, with detailed examinations of the different forms of literary criticism. I especially enjoyed the sections on poststructuralism, deconstruction, and postmodernism, although they did result in a sharp increase of my TBR list. A must read for any student of literature. ( )

This relatively brief text offers a reasonably thorough introduction to the basics of literary theory -- in that, it does an excellent job of living up to its title. As its discussion of literary theory is somewhat perfunctory, this book is not recommended for the more advanced student, who likely requires greater depth of analysis. However, for those just starting out or wishing simply to dabble in literary theory, this introductory text provides an excellent starting point.

Bertens grounds his discussion in the intersection of literary interpretation and literary theory, and addresses the major bodies of literary criticism in chronological order over the past century. Each chapter addresses one major critical trend or school, and lists the seminal texts and authors of each, as well as their specific contributions and main ideas. At the end of each chapter, a brief summary reiterates some of the more sentient points, and situates the critical school in the context of criticism and theory more broadly.

Perhaps most appealing in this volume is Bertens' rumination on the relevance of each of these different theories to today's reading experience. He includes modern trends, such as queer studies and ecocriticism, and reminds the reader to always consider critical approaches in the context of the period from which they arise: "The basic assumptions underlying the 'reality' of our grandparents have to a large extent and beyond doubt been shown to be constructed" (p. 212). By the end of the book, the reader should have a good preliminary sense of both the history of literary theory/criticism, and its relevance to a contemporary reading experience at any point over the last century... as well as a starting point for further critical study. For such a small volume, this is quite an accomplishment.