Irony

Description

In this handy volume, Claire Colebrook offers an overview of the history and structure of irony, from Socrates to the present. Students will welcome this clear, concise guide, which: *traces the use of the concept through history, from Greek times to the Romantic period and on to the postmodern era *looks closely at the work of Socrates and the more contemporary theorists Jacques Derrida and Gilles Deleuze *explores the philosophical, literary and political dimensions of irony *applies theories of irony to literary texts Making even the most difficult debates accessible and clear, this is the ideal student introduction to the many theories of irony.

Claire Colebrook teaches English at the University of Edinburgh. Her publications include Gilles Deleuze, in the Routledge Critical Thinkers series and Irony in the Work of Philosophy.

"The Routledge New Critical Idiom series offers some excellent overviews of significant terms and topics in contemporary theory."