Review: 'Best Critical Writing' ed. by Nora Rawn & John Grafton

One of the things I enjoyed most about studying English Literature was reading literature criticism. I know that sounds a bit dry, but there's nothing as fun as reading what writers have to say both about their own craft and the writing of others. Dover Publications has been my go-to for a lot of critical writing and compendiums of writing, so I was very excited to read Best Critical Writing. Thanks to Dover Publications and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Pub. Date: 7/17/2019
Publisher: Dover Publications

In "The Critic as Artist," Oscar Wilde declares that the critic's artistic capabilities are as important as those of the artist. Wilde's passionate defense of the aesthetics of art criticism is among the wide-ranging and thought-provoking essays of this original collection, in which noted writers discuss the role of criticism in English and American literature. 

Contents include Edgar Allan Poe's "The Philosophy of Composition," in which the author draws upon his most famous poem, "The Raven," to illustrate his theories on writing; Matthew Arnold's "The Study of Poetry"; and commentaries on Shakespeare's plays by Samuel Johnson and Wordsworth's poetry by William Hazlitt. Walter Pater, whose work was highly influential on the writers of the Aesthetic Movement, is represented by an essay on style. Other selections include Mark Twain's satirical "Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences" and the "Preface to Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman. Brief introductory notes accompany each essay.

The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover. I loved the image of the pen turning into a sword, dripping not ink but blood. A lot of critical writing can be beautifully vicious, which is something many people forget about. No one is quite as dramatic or gifted than a writer with something, or someone, to criticize. Careers are both forged and tanked this way, which is why it is such a joy to read. However, critical essays aren't just about grandstanding between authors. Rawn and Grafton preface each essay with a short, very short, introduction which is definitely helpful for those not familiar with everyone in this collection.

This collection starts with Edgar Allan Poe's essay 'The Philosophy of Composition', in which he lays bare his own method of crafting his famous poem 'The Raven'. It is a miracle that he not only makes poetry composition seem easy, but that he also makes reading about it fun. Oscar Wilde's 'The Critic As Artist' is typical of all his writing, and that is meant as a compliment. It overflows with beautiful phrases while seriously discussing the role and skill of the critic and why they're important in the creation of art. I also found Mark Twain's 'Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences' a hilarious read It is a more typical example of an author using a pen as a sword, but it also gives some insight into Twain's own ideas on writing. Walt Whitman's 'Preface to Leaves of Grass' is beautifully written, if at times a little hard to follow. It is more of a doctrine than a critical essay, but it brilliantly reveals the role of poets in society. Not every essay in this collection will be equally, or consistently, interesting to every reader. I found Samuel Johnson's commentary on Shakespeare mostly interesting, for example, while Walter Pater's essay on style wasn't quite my cup of tea. But in general, Best Critical Writing is a great collection of brilliant writing that will enrich anyone's understanding of the tradition of literary criticism.

I give this collection...

3 Universes.

Although definitely intended for a niche market, Best Critical Writing is a great collection, very competently edited by both Nora Rawn and John Grafton. This will make an excellent resource for anyone with an interest in literary criticism.