As fascinating as the individual chapters are, in this case the whole is much greater than the sum of the parts...At the deepest level, the book transcends the limits of literary criticism, and makes a substantial contribution to contemporary debates over the end of history and the global spread of modern Western culture. This is without question one of the most interesting and important books to grow out of the contemporary movement to expand the literary canon and to view European culture within a larger global context. Virginia Quarterly Review

As fascinating as the individual chapters are, in this case the whole is much greater than the sum of the parts...At the deepest level, the book transcends the limits of literary criticism, and makes a substantial contribution to contemporary debates over the end of history and the global spread of modern Western culture. This is without question one of the most interesting and important books to grow out of the contemporary movement to expand the literary canon and to view European culture within a larger global context. Virginia Quarterly Review

As fascinating as the individual chapters are, in this case the whole is much greater than the sum of the parts...At the deepest level, the book transcends the limits of literary criticism, and makes a substantial contribution to contemporary debates over the end of history and the global spread of modern Western culture. This is without question one of the most interesting and important books to grow out of the contemporary movement to expand the literary canon and to view European culture within a larger global context. Virginia Quarterly Review