Written in concise and clear language, this book offers an historical overview of literary criticism and theory throughout the twentieth century along with a close analysis of some of the most important and commonly taught texts from the period. br ul br li liProvides an accessible introduction to modern literary theory and criticismbr li liPlaces various modes of criticism within their historical and intellectual contextsbr li liOffers close readings of some of the major critical texts of the periodbr li liExplores the works of a diverse group of 20th-century writers, including Babbitt, Woolf, Bakhtin, Heidegger, Lacan, Derrida, Judith Butler, Zizek, Nussbaum, Negri and Hardtbr li liCovers formalism, psychoanalysis, structuralism, deconstruction, Marxism, feminism, reader-response criticism, historicism, gender studies, cultural studies, and film theoryli ul