Marxism has had an enormous impact on literary and cultural studies, and all those interested in the field need to be aware of its achievements. This collection presents the very best of recent Marxist literary criticism in one single volume. An international group of contributors provide an introduction to the development, current trends and evolution of the subject. They include such notable Marxist critics as Tony Bennett, Terry Eagleton, Edward W. Said, Raymond Williams and Fredric Jameson. A diverse range of subjects are analysed such as James Bond, Brecht, Jane Austen and the modern hist.
Looks at the history and content of Raymond Williams' Culture and Society along with other retrospects and their influence upon English cultural criticism relating to this work. Marx initially influenced Williams, was abandoned by him, and then again was a part of his viewpoint. Discusses the nature of the work via translations, and via his own work commenting on Marcuse, with whom he agrees, yet often finds fault with, such as his unification of fascism and liberal culture. Strong points occur when considering Culture and Society in relation to communism and how the Communist Party took to this work. Further, found English Romanticism both a source of and bothersome to English Marxism. Examines other aspects of Williams' work, such as his comment on Burke's notion of nation, the familial cornerstone of society, his influence by Lukacs and that author's work on class consciousness. Furthermore, shows the legacy that Williams left behind, as with his ideas of English Romanticism and their influence upon English Marxism, and critiques of Christopher Caudwell. Considerations of classes taught on multiculturalism and their makeup, particularly from the influence liberal ideas have had, captures much of the final part of the article. S. Fullmer
How far can the path from Thatcher to Blair be written as a dynamic of Ukanian constitutional involution, or devolution? Francis Mulhern questions whether classes can be so quickly bundled off-stage. Is it possible to speak of nations -- English, Scottish, Irish or any other -- as political communities, without social or ideological dispositions? Adapted from the source document.