Reading Between the Lines

Annabel Patterson's Reading Between the Lines tackles the hottest topic in literary studies today: the `Great Books Debate' and the question of teaching the canon of English literature. In doing so it provides a superbly formulated moderate stance between the Western canon's radical opponents and its zealous protectors. This is the first major work to mediate successfully between conservative proponents of the traditional approach to literary education, and those who insist that literature is an empty category filled only according to society's needs. Its astute and sane analysis will be a welcome contribution to the debate.