Harold Bloom explores our Western literary tradition by concentrating on the works of twenty-six authors central to the Canon. He argues against ideology in literary criticism; he laments the loss of intellectual and aesthetic standards; he deplores multiculturalism, Marxism, feminism, neoconservatism, Afro-centrism, and the New Historicism.

"Penguin Classics is the largest and best-known classics imprint in the world. The Penguin Classics Book covers all the greatest works of fiction, poetry, drama, history, and philosophy in between, this reader's companion encompasses 500 authors, 1,200 books, and 4,000 years of world literature, from ancient Mesopotamia to World War I. Filled with stories of the series' UK origin, author biographies, short book summaries and recommendations, and illustrated...