The business of criticism

This collects two sets of lectures Ms. Gardner gave in her career. The first series, "The Profession of a Critic," was given at the University of London in 1953. The second series, "The Limits of Literary Criticism," was given at King's College, Newcastle, in 1956, the Riddell Memorial Lectures for that year. Ms. Gardner provides a helpful view on literary criticism in the middle of the 20th century, and presents perspectives and insights beneficial to one's understanding of the ideas that were current before Deconstruction came along. Her first essay/lecture is especially helpful, reminding us that the critic should not wield a scepter (as in the scepter of monolithic interpretive "truth") but instead should carry a lamp, lighting the path for enjoyment and understanding of literature.