Seven Types of Ambiguity

Description

The phenomenon and effect of linguistic ambiguity in English poetic literature. This the 3rd edition, 1953; reprinted 1961 in Penguin Books: Peregrine Books Series. (First published 1930, 2nd edition 1947). [rear cover:] This is the latest edition of a famous work which has been extensively revised since the original edition of 1930. Professor Empson's analysis of the effects which may be obtained, deliberately or unconsciously, through the use of ambiguity has become a classic of twentieth-century English literary criticism. As Donald Davie has said: 'No feature of the British literary scene since the war is more remarkable than the greatly increased reputation of William Empson ... Developments in British and American criticism cannot be understood except in terms of the key-word, "ambiguity".' 'A work of real originality, the first expression of a genuinely critical intelligence'. -- *Observer* *For copyright reasons this edition is not for sale in the U.S.A.*