The roving critic by Carl Van Doren
"The Roving Critic" by Carl Van Doren is a collection of essays and literary critiques written in the early 20th century. The work delves into the nature of criticism, exploring its various dimensions and the importance of vibrancy and life in literature. Van Doren examines notable figures in literature and their impact on society, emphasizing how literature reflects the human experience beyond mere adherence to morality, truth, or beauty. The opening of
"The Roving Critic" introduces the concept of a fourth dimension of criticism, which is the vital question of whether literature is "alive." Van Doren proposes that the essence of great literature lies not solely in its goodness, truthfulness, or beauty, but in its ability to convey a sense of vibrant life. He discusses how many works, despite their moral flaws, resonate profoundly because they embody the human experience. The text also hints at the evolution of literary critique, setting the stage for deeper explorations of poetic and narrative forms across cultures and time. Overall, the beginning establishes the analytical lens through which Van Doren discusses various literary figures, suggesting a profound connection between the critic's engagement with the text and the life force inherent in the literary work itself. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Van Doren, Carl, 1885-1950 |
|---|---|
| LoC No. | 23026345 |
| Title | The roving critic |
| Original Publication | New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1923. |
| Note | Reading ease score: 61.7 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Credits | Bob Taylor, Tim Lindell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.) |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Literature -- History and criticism |
| Subject | American essays -- 20th century |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 75524 |
| Release Date | Mar 4, 2025 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 1123 downloads in the last 30 days. |
| Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free! | |
