Tag Archives: canon

The Canon of Fantasy Literature (An Impossiblog)

Posted on July 18, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

This is an impossible blog–an impossiblog, if you will. I have been thinking a lot about the literary canon lately. We have a pretty good sense of who to read to capture the breadth of literary fiction in the West … Continue reading →

Posted in Fictional Worlds, News & Links, On Writing, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged , , , , , , | 67 Comments

Harold Bloom’s Canon: The Essential List

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

On Monday I introduced Harold Bloom‘s 1994 bestseller, The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages. I decided to create a “canonical list” in today’s blog for those who are inclined to try to soak in this great radition. Taking … Continue reading →

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Harold Bloom’s “The Western Canon”

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

  Harold Bloom’s The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages was a sensation when it appeared in 1994. Harold Bloom, a curmudgeonly anti-academic ivy league scholar, fills this challenging read with fresh insights on every page. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Original Research, Reviews, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

The Sorrows of Young Goethe

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

Let me tell you a story. In the summer of 1772, 245 years ago, a young Johann Wolfgang von Goethe took a position articling in Wetzlar, Germany. He wasn’t a very good lawyer, however, and spent most of his time … Continue reading →

Posted in Thoughtful Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments