Books like Literature as Art by Ralph A. Britsch

‘Literature as Art’ compiles representative passages from the major literary traditions of Western culture. It begins with the heroic epics of Homer, the philosophical treatises of Aristotle, and the poetic forms of the classical period. The collection then proceeds through the Christian and medieval canon, featuring biblical passages, the profound meditations of Augustine, the epic of Dante, and the tales of Chaucer. It continues into the Renaissance and early modern era, bringing together the wit of Erasmus, the narrative skill of Boccaccio, the lyrical beauty of Petrarch and Shakespeare, and the philosophical intensity of Donne. The final sections close with fragments from Mannerism and Neoclassicism, offering readers a broad view of how literary expression evolved over centuries while retaining its artistic core.

First publish date: 1972