In this brilliant impassioned and controversial book New Yorker critic JoanAcocella argues that twentiethcentury literary critics from the Left and Righthave mi... » 

In this brilliant impassioned and controversial book New Yorker critic JoanAcocella argues that twentiethcentury literary critics from the Left and Righthave misused Willa Cather and her works for their own political ends and indoing so have either ignored or obscured her true literary achievement. In anacute and often very funny critique of the critics Acocella untangles Cathersreputation from decades of politically motivated misreadings and proposes herown clearheaded view of Cathers genius. At once a graceful summary ofCathers life and work and a refreshing plea that books be read forthemselves Willa Cather and the Politics of Criticism will also inspirereaders to return to one of Americas great novelists. «