Rhetoric and Pluralism: Legacies of Wayne Booth

Wayne C. Booth is indisputedly one of the most important and influential literary critics in American belles lettres. Not only is he widely acclaimed for his stimulating arguments and conclusions, but he is also appreciated for the kinds of activities and intellectual life in which he engages his audience. This collection of essays is not so much a retrospective of Booth's career, or an accolade in honor of his newly acquired emeritus status, as it is a challenge for him to continue his work and a reflection of both the profit and the pleasure of his company. The first of five groups of essays situates Booth within contemporary controversies and within the life experiences and roles where such controversies matter most for human character. Booth's work as a literary critic shapes the second section, which focuses on what the authors see as Booth's key ethical questions about literature and literary criticism. The third section of essays is concerned with the implications of Booth's writing, particularly in its connection with politics. Booth's influence in fields other than literary studies provides the theme for the fourth section. The final section explores the problematic but promising relation among assent, ethics, and pluralism. In the afterword, Booth himself reflects on these essays, demonstrating firsthand the critical and ethical qualities he brings to his arguments.