The Philosophy of Literature [Paperback]

By exploring central issues in the philosophy of literature, illustrated by a wide range of novels, poems, and plays, Philosophy of Literature gets to the heart of why literature matters to us and sheds new light on the nature and interpretation of literary works.

• Provides a comprehensive study, along with original insights, into the philosophy of literature
• Develops a unique point of view - from one of the field's leading exponents
• Offers examples of key issues using excerpts from well-known novels, poems, and plays from different historical periods

Table of Contents.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

1 Art.

2 Literature.

3 Authors.

4 Practice.

5 Fiction.

6 Truth.

7 Value.

Bibliography of works cited.

The image Lamarque offers is an extremely attractive one, and it reminds us of why this is such an exciting and important field. The Philosophy of Literature is a smart, original, and erudite book, and it deserves to be widely read. Philosophers of literature will not be able to live without it. (John Gibson, Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, vol 68, 2010)

Peter Lamarque's splendid and informative book, The Philosophy of Literature ... is brimful with insights into the nature of literature, and into the debates between philosophers interested in literature, and I cannot imagine anyone failing to learn from it. (Simon Blackburn, British Journal of Aesthetics, Vol. 50, 2010)

[Lamarque] is always admirably clear and the rich use of literary sources in this work to illustrate the philosophical arguments also makes the book generally compelling reading. From this viewpoint, thlCÇ