Product Description

The bestselling author of horror and fantasy has been compared to Edgar Allan Poe and Jack London.

This title, Stephen King, part of Chelsea House Publishers’ Modern Critical Views series, examines the major works of Stephen King through full-length critical essays by expert literary critics. In addition, this title features a short biography on Stephen King, a chronology of the author’s life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2069350 in Books
• Published on: 1998-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Library Binding
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

Nothing like a book full of bitter contempt to start your morning!
Bloom not only can't appreciate who King is but resents King for what he isn't; Shakespeare, Saul Bellow, DeLillo, Thomas Pynchon, or Philip Roth. That is the old relic's safe, little comfort zone.

Howard Bloom, the crumudgen cliche, a carictacure of the out-of-touch literary snob has a bone to pick with King and ironicaly isn't capable of articulating what exactly is wrong with King's work.

Shame on you King for your success, your genres of choice, your style, for being prolific, and most of all being honored by the National Book Foundation. Shame on you, for you have "dumbed down" the American readers. But there is a single purpose to King's work, according to Bloom, to keep the publishing world afloat. Ahhh, the world through the eyes of a bitter old man.

$45? You've got to be kidding.

Salute to the King!
Stephen King will not be read in hundred years, huh? A good example of staying power is H.P. Lovecraft, who published a few things before his death. No one knew who the heck he was. Now, close to a hundred years (close enough) from his first publshed work, he is still widely read and revered in many circles. Stephen King has been named in the top 100 Pop Culture Icons, and films inspired by his work will live forvever. "Shawshank Redemption", "Dolores Claiborne", "The Green Mile", "Stand by Me" films will last. He will last. He has won the most awards of any author alive! King is celebrated throughout the world because of his unique writing. Without him...my these critics just do not know how much he has influenced writers from all genres. Dennis Lehane, Michael Connely, James Patterson, Stewart O'Nan, Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson cite King as an influence. "Literary" authors of all countries count him as an influence. What he has contributed is your opinion Harold Bloom/others, but my God, King just received the National Book Award for DISTINGUISHED CONTRIBUTION TO AMERICAN LETTERS. The highest honor. Walter Mosely introduced him at the awards ceremony! Saying that King will not survive and be around a hundred years from now is like saying Harry Potter won't be read a hundred years from now. Sour grapes. Read King's books. Find out for yourself.

Bloom Is Off the Rose
If literacy is dead, Bloom killed it. Bloom never understood the simple fact that since the Vulgate edition of the Bible, it has been the popular culture that animates literature; and it is the popular genres--mystery, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and so on that energize it. Bloom wants all literature to be the mundane, vapid tomes of the academy. This is the kind of pseudo-intellectual claptrap that turns off even the most disciplined of young minds to literary pursuits. If Bloom doesn't get why King is a master storyteller, or why J. K. Rowling has everybody reading about Harry Potter, he's hopeless. Put him out to pasture. Don't waste your money on this book.