Humanistic formalism - a theoretical defense; the ethics of reading - the case for pluralistic and transactional reading; character and characterization - an inquiry; the narrative of Paul de Man - texts, issues, significance; towards poetics - challenges and contributions.

An attempt to define a humanistic and pluralistic ideology of reading which takes recent theory into account. By the same author as "The Humanistic Heritage: Critical Theories on the English Novel from James through Hillis Miller", and "Reading Joyce's `Ulysses'".