Critical Writings, 1953-1978

Critical Writings, 1953-1978 collects the early academic works and essays of literary theorist Paul de Man. This volume compiles writings from his time in Europe through his influential years teaching at Yale University. The book presents de Man's analyses of major literary figures including Hölderlin, Mallarmé, Rousseau, and Wordsworth. His essays examine the relationship between rhetoric and meaning while developing his approach to deconstructionist criticism. These writings trace de Man's intellectual evolution from phenomenological criticism to his later focus on language and rhetoric. The collection includes both published articles and previously unreleased materials from archives. The essays work together to challenge traditional assumptions about literary interpretation and the nature of language itself. De Man's theoretical framework continues to influence discussions of literature, philosophy, and critical theory.

Readers note this collection showcases de Man's development as a literary theorist through his essays on language, rhetoric and criticism. Academic readers emphasize its value for understanding deconstruction and post-structuralist theory. Readers appreciated: - Clear progression of de Man's ideas over 25 years - Detailed analysis of specific literary works - Complex theoretical concepts explained methodically - Usefulness as a teaching text Common criticisms: - Dense, difficult writing style - Assumes significant prior knowledge - Limited accessibility for non-academic readers - Some essays feel repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 4.05/5 (19 ratings) Amazon: No ratings available From reviews: "Important but challenging reading for anyone studying literary theory" - Goodreads reviewer "His writing demands intense focus and re-reading to grasp fully" - Academic reviewer "The early essays provide helpful context for understanding his later work" - Graduate student review Limited review data exists online since this is primarily used in academic settings.

The Resistance to Theory by Paul de Man This collection of essays examines the relationships between literary theory, rhetoric, and the resistance to theoretical thinking in literary studies.

Allegories of Reading by Paul de Man This work presents close readings of Rousseau, Nietzsche, Rilke, and Proust through the lens of rhetorical analysis and deconstruction.

Of Grammatology by Jacques Derrida This foundational text of deconstruction theory challenges Western philosophy's assumptions about writing, speech, and meaning.

Blindness and Insight by Paul de Man These essays explore the paradoxical nature of literary criticism and the relationship between clarity and blindness in critical understanding.

The Anxiety of Influence by Harold Bloom This theoretical work maps the relationships between poets and their predecessors through a system of rhetorical analysis and poetic influence.

🔖 Paul de Man was a highly influential literary theorist who helped introduce deconstruction theory to American academia in the 1970s alongside Jacques Derrida. 📚 The essays in this collection span crucial decades in literary criticism, capturing the shift from New Criticism to post-structuralism in American literary studies. ✍️ After de Man's death in 1983, controversy erupted when it was discovered he had written articles for Nazi-controlled newspapers in occupied Belgium during WWII, leading scholars to re-examine his work through this lens. 📖 The book contains de Man's seminal essays on "blindness and insight," where he argues that critics' most powerful insights often emerge from their interpretive blind spots. 🎓 Many of these essays were written during de Man's time at Yale University, where he was part of the "Yale School" of deconstructionist critics alongside Geoffrey Hartman, J. Hillis Miller, and Harold Bloom.