Major influences on the deve]opment of modern theory are examined, among them the creation of university English and campus politics;the Cold War; the Anglo-Americanization of French and German theory; the culture wars; and the politics of contemporary historicist scholarship.

Literary Tkeory: A Reintroduction introduces the current state of theory by placing it in its social,historical and institutional contexts. Beginning in the 1920s, the book looks at the impact of the periods preceding the theory movement' and reintroduces this movement from a contemporary perspective. Engaging the reader in questions about theorig, reception and analysis of literary theory, Ayers explces how and why popular criticisms developed, and considers their futures. Major influences on the deve]opment of modern theory are examined, among them the creation of university English and campus politics;the Cold War; the Anglo-Americanization of French and German theory; the culture wars; and the politics of contemporary historicist scholarship.Key figures ch as F. R. Lcavis, Raymond Williams, Jacques Derrida, Michel Foucault, Judith Butler and Alain Badiou are also discussed.

Introduction

Chapter 1: English as a University Subject

Chapter 2: The New Criticism and Beyond

Chapter 3: Reconfiguring English Studies

Chapter 4: The Politics of Theory

Chapter 5: From Work to Text

Chapter 6: Enlightenment and Modernity

Chapter 7: PC Wars

Chapter 8: Ethics

Notes

Selected Bibliography

Index