Sociable Criticism in England 1625-1725

Trolander and Tenger (both English, Berry College) explore the cultural and social roots of English critical practices and institutions of the 17th century, focusing on the interpersonal dimensions. They argue that public critical judgments could circulate orally, in manuscript, or in print so long as they appeared to originate in personal encounters. When critics did not take such precautions, they say, their texts were understood to be legislative or regulative. Distributed in the US by Associated University Presses. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)