Why trilling matters kirsch

Enlarge Image. Lionel Trilling, regarded at the time of his death in as America's preeminent literary critic, is today often seen as a relic of a vanished era. His was an age when literary criticism and ideas seemed to matter profoundly in the intellectual life of the country. In this eloquent book, Adam Kirsch shows that Trilling, far from being obsolete, is essential to understanding our current crisis of literary confidence - and to overcoming it.

By reading Trilling primarily as a writer and thinker, Kirsch demonstrates how Trilling's original and moving work continues to provide an inspiring example of a mind creating itself through its encounters with texts. Why Trilling Matters introduces all of Trilling's major writings and situates him in the intellectual landscape of his century, from Communism in the s to neoconservatism in the s.

One does not consume art, one experiences it. Nov 02, Barbara Heisey rated it really liked it. Adam Kirsch has written a lovely tribute to the fairly heady Trilling, giving the reader a fairly good idea of what motivated Trilling's criticism and what meant for the life of the mind, a life Trilling lived to the fullest.

Trilling's engagement with the Great Questions of human existence and his faith in literature's vivifying and explanatory capacity is a solvent for this age of vacant post-modernist cant. Oct 29, foundfoundfound rated it liked it. Feb 20, Daniel rated it liked it. Nicely written and a good introduction to Trilling. If I were not so busy now finally updating my page here, I might have more to say. Jul 20, m rated it really liked it. Good book. Only 40, words, but taxing.

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one ». Readers also enjoyed. About Adam Kirsch. Adam Kirsch. Adam Kirsch is the author of two collections of poems and several books of poetry criticism. He lives in New York City with his wife and son. Other books in the series. Why X Matters Series 1 - 10 of 15 books. Books by Adam Kirsch. Mahogany L. Browne's Picture Book Gift Guide. She's also the Read more Trivia About Why Trilling Matters.

No trivia or quizzes yet. Nigel Smith. Nuttall; With a new preface by the author. Some Notes Towards the Redefinition of Culture. George Steiner. Edited by Charles A. Modern Writing and the Authority of Scripture.

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