Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory - An Overview

The most exhaustive mapping of contemporary literary theory to date, this book offers a comprehensive overview of the current state of the field of contemporary literary theory. Examining 75 key topics across 15 chapters, it provides an approachable and encyclopedic introduction to the most important areas of contemporary theory today. Proceeding broadly chronologically from early theory all the way through to postcritique, Di Leo masterfully unpacks established topics such as psychoanalysis, structuralism and Marxism, as well as newer topics such as trans* theory, animal studies, disability studies, blue humanities, speculative realism and many more. Featuring accessible discussion of the work of foundational theorists such as Lacan, Derrida and Freud as well as contemporary theorists such as Haraway, Braidotti and Hayles, it offers a magisterial examination of an enormously rich and varied body of work.

About the author

Jeffrey R. Di Leo is Professor of English and Philosophy at Texas A&M University-Victoria, USA. He is editor and founder of the critical theory journal symploke, editor-in-chief of American Book Review, and Executive Director of the Society for Critical Exchange and its Winter Theory Institute. He is author, editor, or co-editor of 40 books. His recent books include Happiness (2022), Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory: An Overview (2023), and Out of Print (2024).

Product details

• Authors: Jeffrey R Di Leo, Jeffrey R. Di Leo
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 07.08.2025
• EAN: 9781350564138
• ISBN: 978-1-350-56413-8
• No. of pages: 472
• Dimensions: 190 mm x 246 mm x 34 mm
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; LITERARY CRITICISM / Semiotics & Theory, LITERARY CRITICISM / Reference, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / 21st Century, LITERARY CRITICISM / Modern / 20th Century, Literary studies: from c 1900 -, Literary theory, Literary reference works, Literary studies: c 1900 to c 2000, Literary studies: from c 2000