"Perkins' introduction is perceptive and intelligent, balancing genuine enthusiasm for the novel with a judicious assessment of its place in literary history." -- Jane Hodson, University of Sheffield

    Lewis's classic analysis springs from the conviction that literature exists for the joy of the reader and that books should be judged by the kind of reading they invite. Crucial to his notion of judging literature is a commitment to laying aside expectations and values extraneous to the work, in order to approach it with an open mind.