Literary Criticism from Plato to the Presentpresents an authoritative overview of the development of Western literary criticism and theory. In clear, concise, and elegant prose, the acclaimed literary scholar M. A. R. Habib introduces major critical movements, figures, and texts, while paying close attention to textual detail, broader historical context, and the interconnections between various theories. Beginning with Classical literary criticism, the author goes on to explore literary criticism from the Middle Ages through the Early Modern and Modern periods into the twentieth century, including in his treatment major historical phenomena such as the French Revolution and major philosophies and political theories such as those of Locke and Marx. Literary Criticism from Plato to the Present is an indispensable and intellectually stimulating introduction to the history of literary criticism and theory.