politerobot

An excellent book of literature theory. Hume offers several compelling arguments for her stance of literature as the product of both mimesis and fantasy, in an relationship that is not easily broken. Though she sometimes only scratches the surface of some areas, the book as a whole is a brilliant starting point for the study of fantasy.

Part I, about the basis for her book (a new approach to fantasy and mimesis) is all round brilliant. Part II is interesting in that it offers new categories to classify fiction by, and offers interesting readings of several quite diverse works of fiction, both mimetic and fantastic. Part III was in m opinion the poorest part, in that it felt somewhat outdated. Especially chapter 8 suffered (imo) under the heavy psychoanalytical approach Hume took to meaning and its implications and powers in literature.

None the less, it was a brilliant read, for all the thoughts and arguments it produced - as all could theory should do.