Holland's Guide to Psychoanalytic Psychology and Literature-and-Psychology

As psychoanalysis becomes more and more important to literary studies and the accompanying literature bulks larger and larger, students often feel overwhelmed, not knowing where to turn for readings that will open up the subject. Holland's Guide to Psychoanalytic Psychology and Literature-and-Psychology offers an ingenious solution to this problem. It provides concise outlines of all types of psychoanalytic theory and shows how they apply to literary criticism. The outlines point in turn to further, more specific readings--articles, essays, and books--which can then be located by two extensive bibliographies that follow the discussion. These offer materials that range from the earliest Freud to the latest cognitive science and include dozens of bibliographic aids. Holland integrates these suggested readings with lively, detailed comments on various psychologies as they relate to literature. He is thus able to guide students easily to the precise subject they wish to study, be it Jungian criticism, ego psychology, feminist psychoanalysis, psychoanalytic film theory, or interpretation of some specific text. Holland also offers a bracing discussion of reader-response criticism and a lucid guide to the work of Jacques Lacan. A trenchant epilogue defends the psychological approach, suggesting which points in psychoanalytic theory will work for literary critics, and which will not. The only such guidebook for students of psychoanalytic literary theory and literary criticism, Holland's Guide will also prove an invaluable aid for those studying psychoanalysis and psychology.

Review :
"This would be a useful supplement for a graduate seminar. It will be helpful to anyone proposing to do research or study in depth of psychoanalytic criticism- an indispensable starting point, perhaps."--Arline R. Thorn, West Virginia State College "A good guide to the genesis and nature of literary psychological criticism. It is thorough but helpful because it is so schematically presented."--Robert W. Peckham, Sacred Heart Major Seminary "Absolutely indispensible for anyone interested in depth psychology and literature. I recommend it to all of my classes and to anyone else who will listen."--Ronald Gottesman, University of Southern California "Timely, personal, and unique in its completeness."--Charles Proudfit, University of Colorado, Boulder "Indispensable to anyone interested in the vast field of literature and psychoanalysis. Written by the dean of American psychoanalytic literary critics, it is useful both to the beginning student and the expert....I recommend it highly."--Jeffrey Berman, State University of New York at Albany "This would be a useful supplement for a graduate seminar. It will be helpful to anyone proposing to do research or study in depth of psychoanalytic criticism- an indispensable starting point, perhaps."--Arline R. Thorn, West Virginia State College "A good guide to the genesis and nature of literary psychological criticism. It is thorough but helpful because it is so schematically presented."--Robert W. Peckham, Sacred Heart Major Seminary "Absolutely indispensible for anyone interested in depth psychology and literature. I recommend it to all of my classes and to anyone else who will listen."--Ronald Gottesman, University of Southern California "Timely, personal, and unique in its completeness."--Charles Proudfit, University of Colorado, Boulder "Indispensable to anyone interested in the vast field of literature and psychoanalysis. Written by the dean of American psychoanalytic literary critics, it is useful both to the beginning student and the expert....I recommend it highly."--Jeffrey Berman, State University of New York at Albany "Thank you for making this novel approach available to students of literature. I think it will prove extremely helpful. The way it is set up encourages one to get into it. The aids and references at the back are clear and broad. The simplifications will make the various subcategories of psychology accessible to many students with very little formal knowledge of psychology."--David B. Merrell, Abilene Christian University "An excellent reference work, short, to the point, but thoroughly inclusive. I will use it often, in class and out, and recommend it to all with interest in this subject."--Gerald Garmon, West Georgia College "Excellent survey and introduction for students and teachers."--Donald G. Marshall, University of Illinois at Chicago "The charm of this short, densely-packed guide is that it is both informative and personal. . . .Chock-full of practical, bibliographical information. . . .Holland intrudes his witty, intelligent, and quizzical presence throughout the book." --Psychoanalytic Books