Creative writing and literary studies

Bloom leads us through the labyrinthine paths which link the writers and critics who have informed and inspired him for so many years. The result is "a critical self-portrait," a sustained meditation on a life lived with and through the great works of the Western canon.

Lively and learned, this up-to-date guide to literary words and concepts is an essential volume for every student and reader of literature. David Mikics sketches the derivations and history of each term, offers useful bibliographic suggestions for most entries, and clarifies the often confusing terrain of literary theory today.

Contains two lectures on this important subject by the distinguished literary critic Sir Frank Kermode. In essays that were originally delivered as Tanner Lectures at Berkeley, Kermode reinterprets the question of canon formation in light of two related and central notions: pleasure and change.

A study of the reception and representation of critical theory in literary fiction since the 1960s. This topical study examines the ambitious 'novelisations' of radical literary theory in the work of AS Byatt, Angela Carter, Mark Z. Danielewksi, Umberto Eco, John Fowles, David Lodge, Richard Powers, and many others.

The bewildering variety of approaches, theorists and technical language is lucidly and expertly unravelled. Unlike many books which assume certain positions about the critics and the theories they represent, Peter Barry allows readers to develop their own ideas once first principles and concepts have been grasped.

A wide-ranging anthology of classic essays and important recent statements on the mission and methods of comparative literary studies. This pioneering collection brings together thirty-two pieces, from foundational statements by Herder, Madame de Staël, and Nietzsche to work by a range of the most influential comparatists writing today.

This classic work covers all of the major movements in literary studies in this century. Noted for its clear, engaging style and unpretentious treatment, Literary Theory has become the introduction of choice for anyone interested in learning about the world of contemporary literary thought. On the twenty-fifth anniversary of Literary Theory's debut, Terry Eagleton reflects on the state of theory in academia today, the growth of antitheory (itself an interesting theoretical subject), its common-if problematic-place among survey coursework, and theory's continued relevance to scholarly pursuits.

Chair of judges Kwame Anthony Appiah comments that ‘the language of Anna Burns’ Milkman is simply marvellous; beginning with the distinctive and consistently realised voice of the funny, resilient, astute, plain-spoken, first-person protagonist".

Baroness Lola Young, chair of the 2017 judging panel, said the form of the novel - which includes voices of 166 souls in the graveyard - "reveals a witty, intelligent and deeply moving narrative".

The Chair of judges, Amanda Foreman, comments: ‘The Sellout is a novel for our times. A tirelessly inventive modern satire, its humour disguises a radical seriousness. Paul Beatty slays sacred cows with abandon and takes aim at racial and political taboos with wit, verve and a snarl.’

Chair of judges' Michael Wood: ‘This book is startling in its range of voices and registers, running from the patois of the street posse to The Book of Revelation. It is a representation of political times and places, from the CIA intervention in Jamaica to the early years of crack gangs in New York and Miami.

Chair of judges AC Grayling's comment: ‘The two great themes from the origin of literature are love and war: this is a magnificent novel of love and war. Written in prose of extraordinary elegance and force, it bridges East and West, past and present, with a story of guilt and heroism.'

The chair of judges Robert Macfarlane described the book as a “dazzling work, luminous, vast”. It is, he said, “a book you sometimes feel lost in, fearing it to be 'a big baggy monster', but it turns out to be as tightly structured as an orrery”.

Chair of judges' Sir Peter Stothard: ‘This is a bloody story about the death of Anne Boleyn, but Hilary Mantel is a writer who thinks through the blood… we have the greatest modern English prose writer reviving possibly one of the best known pieces of English history’

Chair of judges' Dame Stella Rimington: "It is a very readable book, if I may use that word, but readable not only once but twice and even three times. It is incredibly concentrated. Crammed into this short space is a great deal of information which you don't get out of a first read."

Chair of judges' Sir Andrew Motion comments ‘The Finkler Question is a marvellous book: very funny, of course, but also very clever, very sad and very subtle. It is all that it seems to be and much more than it seems to be. A completely worthy winner of this great prize.’

Sets the agenda for creative writing studies. Here writers, teachers and theorists identify theoretical underpinnings for creativity and writing in a broad spectrum of experience - architecture, morality, psychology, ecology, philosophy, physiology, love, sculpture and the body.

Demystifies the process of creative writing, showing that successful work arises not from talent or inspiration alone. Hazel Smith breaks down writing into incremental stages, revealing processes that are often unconscious or unacknowledged, and shows how they can become part of a systematic writing strategy.

McNally acts as the writer’s friendly drill sergeant, relentlessly honest but bracingly cheerful as he issues his curmudgeonly marching orders. Alternately cranky and philosophical, full of to-the-point anecdotes and honest advice instead of wonkish facts and figures. A droll, truthful, and immensely helpful map to being a writer in today’s complex world.

Tim Mayers explores the nature of the contemporary English department with the intent of drawing connections between the usually separate fields of creative writing and composition studies.

An accessible guide to the entire creative writing process, referring to a wealth of examples from writers such as Umberto Eco, Terry Prachett and Ian Fleming. Topics include how children learn to write, the visual design of text, and the impact of technology on writing.

Creative writing and academic research can seem uncomfortable bedfellows. But in this learned, practical book, Jen Webb shows how 'research practices can invigorate writing; creative practices can invigorate research; and - if properly organised and managed - creative writing can operate as a mode of knowledge generation, a way of exploring problems and answering questions that matter in our current context'. Researching creative writing enables writer-researchers to craft a toolkit that will help them produce better creative work and more rigorous research work.