A Companion to Romanticism (Blackwell Companions to Literature and Culture)

Rating:
Summary: Mandatory Reading for Romanticists
Review: Wu's Companion should be mandatory reading for serious scholars of English Romanticism. With major sections on historical milieux, readings of major canonical (and non-canonical) texts, major genres, and critical debates, the Companion is valuable to those just approaching Romantic writing and those who have studied a long time but want a condensed (?) version of the critical conversations. In addition, Wu had the good sense (and good fortune) to gather together some of the foremost scholars of Romantic literature: among others, contributors are Nelson Hilton, Jonathan Wordsworth, David Bromwich, David Simpson, and Alan Richardson. I know more than one Ph.D. student who credits Wu's book with getting him or her through the Romantic portion of comprehensive exams, and many professors are finding it invaluable for classroom prep.