American literature's aesthetic dimensionsEdited by Cindy Weinstein and Christopher Looby
Columbia University Press, 2012
This indispensable book recuperates questions of beauty, form, sensuousness, and taste after they have been largely discarded by the politically engaged criticism of the last two to three decades. Understandably wary about a renewal of the aesthetic as the absolute horizon of interpretation, Weinstein and Looby—and their contributors—make a compelling case for reintegrating formalism and historicism. I can think of no other collection with similar richness and revisionary scope; its appearance marks a watershed in the study of American literature.
Michael T. Gilmore, Brandeis University
American Literature’s Aesthetic Dimensions, edited by Cindy Weinstein and Christopher Looby, explores the intersection of aesthetics and American literary traditions. This collection investigates how American literature has grappled with the complexities of aesthetic theory, offering fresh perspectives on the cultural and historical forces shaping literary production. The editors contribute significantly by framing these discussions within broader critical debates, guiding readers through an exploration of the aesthetic choices authors make, and highlighting the profound impact of these choices on literature’s engagement with American identity. Their editorial work provides a thorough understanding of both the theoretical and practical dimensions of literary aesthetics in American writing.