Definitions

A sharp spark in the quiet of a library, a signal flare for readers who believe criticism can illuminate a living culture.
Definitions: Essays In Contemporary Criticism [First Series] by Henry Seidel Canby gathers confident, lucid reflections on form, belief, and the modern moment. A true essay collection and a criticism anthology, it moves through aesthetic judgement debates, literary interpretation debates, and the evolving craft of reading, with energy suited to both the academic readership and general readers.

Canby's keen sense of early twentieth‑century Anglo American criticism reveals how writers shaped modern essays tradition and how arguments about art and life still echo today. The tone is clear, accessible, and reverent, inviting you to travel from fresh impressions to careful, rigorous argument without abandoning wonder. It is not merely history; it is a living dialogue about what literature can be and do.

Out of print for decades and now republished by Alpha Editions. Restored for today's and future generations. More than a reprint - a collector's item and a cultural treasure. This volume speaks to curious minds and to collectors who treasure the enduring energy of great criticism, making a bridge between the classics and contemporary cultural criticism. A worthy addition for anyone exploring modern essays tradition, anglo american criticism, or the conversation that still informs literary interpretation today.