This book traces the emergence and development of Literature and the Bible as a field of scholarship, presenting key critical essays alongside more recent criticism that explores new directions. The Western literary tradition has a long and complex relationship with the Jewish and Christian scriptures. Authors draw on the Bible in numerous ways and for different reasons, and there is also the myriad of subconscious ways through which the biblical text enters literary culture. Biblical stories, characters, motifs and references permeate the whole of the literary tradition.

In the last thirty years there has been a growth of critical interest in this relationship. In Literature and the Bible: A Reader the editors bring together a selection of the key critical and theoretical materials from this time, providing a comprehensive resource for students and scholars.

Each chapter contains:

* An introduction from the editors, contextualising the material within and alerting readers to some of the historic debates that feed into the extracts chosen

* A set of previously published extracts of substantial length, offering greater contextualisation and allowing the Reader to be used flexibly

* Lists of further reading, providing readers with a wide variety of other sources and perspectives.

Designed to be used alongside the Bible and selected literary texts, this book is essential reading for anyone studying Literature and the Bible in undergraduate English, Religion and Theology degrees.

About the Author
Jo Carruthers is Lecturer in the Department of English and Creative Writing at Lancaster University, UK. Mark Knight is Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Toronto, Canada. Andrew Tate is Senior Lecturer in the Department of English and Creative Writing at Lancaster University, UK.

Reviews

'...plenty of sparkling and stimulating material that should give rise to lively interest and good discussion. The book is substantial, well-presented and carefully organised; there is nothing quite like it available. I hope it will be widely used.' The Glass, Journal of the Christian Literary Studies Group

'Recommended.' - Choice

'Recommended' - Choice

Book Information
ISBN 9780415698535
Author Jo Carruthers
Format Paperback
Page Count 370
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 680g