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Why do we value literature so? Many would say for the experience it brings us. But what is it about that experience that makes us treasure certain writings above others? Stephen Booth suggests that the greatest appeal of our most valued works may be that they are, in one way or another, nonsensical. He uses three disparate texts--the Gettysburg Address, Ben Jonson's epitaphs on his children, and Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night'--to demonstrate how poetics triumphs over logic in the invigorating mental activity that enriches our experience of reading. Booth presents his case in a book that is crisply playful while at the same time thoroughly analytical. He demonstrates the lapses in logic and the irrational connections in examples of very different types of literature, showing how they come close to incoherence yet maintain for the reader a reliable order and purpose. Ultimately, Booth argues, literature gives us the capacity to cope effortlessly with, and even to transcend, the complicated and demanding mental experiences it generates for us. This book is in part a witty critique of the trends--old and new--of literary criticism, written by an accomplished and gifted scholar. But it is also a testimony to the power of the process of reading itself. 'Precious Nonsense' is certain to bring pleasure to anyone interested in language and its beguiling possibilities.

English literature --- Nonsense literature, English --- English Literature --- English --- Languages & Literatures --- History and criticism. --- History and criticism --- Shakespeare, William, --- Lincoln, Abraham, --- Jonson, Ben, --- English nonsense literature --- Nonsense literature, English, [etc.] --- Goldmark, Rubin,

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Carroll, Lewis --- Nonsense literature, English --- Fantasy literature, English --- Logic in literature. --- History and criticism. --- Logic in literature --- -Fantasy literature, English --- -English fantasy literature --- Fantastic literature, English --- English literature --- English nonsense literature --- Nonsense literature, English, [etc.] --- History and criticism --- -History and criticism --- Dodgson, Charles Lutwidge --- Carroll, Lewis, --- Testoni, Giampaolo, --- Nonsense literature, English - History and criticism. --- Fantasy literature, English - History and criticism.

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'Jean-Jacques Lecercle's remarkable Philosophy of Nonsense offers a sustained and important account of an area that is usually hastily dismissed. Using the resources of contemporary philosophy - notably Deleuze and Lyotard - he manages to bring out the importance of nonsense' - Andrew Benjamin, University of Warwick Why are we, and in particular why are philosophers and linguists, so fascinated with nonsense? Why do Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear appear in so many otherwise dull and dry academic books? This amusing, yet rigorous new

English literature --- anno 1800-1899 --- Littérature anglaise --- --XIXe s., --- Nonsense --- --Carroll, Lewis pseudonyme de Dodgson, Charles Lutwidge (1832-1898) --- Œuvre --- --Langage --- --Philosophie --- --Nonsense literature, English --- 5340 --- History and criticism --- Theory, etc --- 820-7 --- 820 "18" --- Engelse literatuur: humor; satire --- Engelse literatuur--19e eeuw. Periode 1800-1899 --- 820 "18" Engelse literatuur--19e eeuw. Periode 1800-1899 --- 820-7 Engelse literatuur: humor; satire --- Nonsense literature, English --- English nonsense literature --- Nonsense literature, English, [etc.] --- British literature --- Inklings (Group of writers) --- Nonsense Club (Group of writers) --- Order of the Fancy (Group of writers) --- History and criticism&delete& --- --Carroll, Lewis, --- Theory, etc. --- XIXe s., 1801-1900 --- Langage --- Philosophie --- Nonsense literature, English - History and criticism - Theory, etc --- English literature - 19th century - History and criticism - Theory, etc --- Carroll, Lewis, 1832-1898 --- LITTERATURE ANGLAISE --- NON-SENS (PHILOSOPHIE) --- LITTERATURE NONSENSIQUE (NON-SENS) --- 19E SIECLE --- HISTOIRE ET CRITIQUE --- THEORIE, ETC.