Literary Criticism .. a short history / Wiliam K Wimsatt jr and Cleanth Brooks

"Literary Criticism: A Short History" is a comprehensive work by William K. Wimsatt Jr. and Cleanth Brooks, first published in 1957. The book traces the evolution of literary criticism from its classical origins to the contemporary state of criticism in the English-speaking world. It is divided into four volumes, each adopting an objective stance in presenting various critical positions, considering each theory in relation to others and in dialogue with the literature of its time.

The authors, both prominent figures in the New Criticism movement, emphasize close reading and the analysis of the text itself, minimizing external factors such as authorial intent or reader response. This approach is evident in their other collaborative works, including "The Verbal Icon: Studies in the Meaning of Poetry," where they discuss concepts like the "Intentional Fallacy" and the "Affective Fallacy."