Samuel Beckett

Back CoverLongman Critical ReadersGeneral Editor: Stan SmithResearch Professor in Literary Studies, Nottingham Trent UniversityThis important series takes full account of contemporary literary theory, providing collections of key modern readings of major authors, genres and critical approaches. Prefaced by a wide-ranging editorial introduction setting the readings in context and exploring the issues they raise, individual volumes in the series offer the student authoritative and stimulating guides to the best theoretically-informed critical work on subjects from the Middle Ages to the present. This volume aims to make easily accessible to students and scholars stimulating and innovative writing on the work of Samuel Beckett, representing the wide range of new approaches in contemporary critical theory: philosophical, political and psychoanalytic criticism, feminist and gender studies, semiotics, and reception theory.Jennifer Birkett and Kate Ince bring together seminal writings on Beckett from the 1950s and 1960s with contemporary critical readings covering the whole range of Beckett’s creative work. Fifteen critical texts are set in context by the editors’ headnotes. An editorial introduction gives an up-to-date review and analysis of writing on Beckett. The extensive bibliography is organised to guide students through the different areas of Beckett criticism, and there is a glossary of theoretical terms as well as a helpful Index. This book will be welcomed on undergraduate and postgraduate courses where Beckett is being taught, and on critical theory courses, and will be a valuable point of reference for Beckett scholars. Jennifer Birkett is Professor of French Studies, and Kate Ince Lecturer in French Studies, at the University of Birmingham.