Fredric Jameson /

The most influential Marxist literary critic in North America, Jameson wrote The Political Unconscious (1981), a classic in literary theory, and his work on postmodernism continues to define the terms of debate. However, many scholars criticize him for a writing style that is so erudite and difficult that new students of literary theory cannot apprehend his ideas. Roberts's contribution to the "Routledge Critical Thinkers" series offers a clear guide to Jameson's oeuvre for those unfamiliar with his work. In the first half of the book, Roberts (Royal Holloway, Univ. of London, UK) uses Jameson's early publications to provide an overview of Marxist and psychoanalytic theory necessary for understanding the originality of his theories. The second half is a more straightforward exposition of Jameson's later work. Even though Roberts includes brief summaries of the critiques (including praise) leveled at Jameson by other critics throughout the book, he never offers his own assessment of Jameson's ideas. Scholars already familiar with Jameson will find little that is new here, but those struggling to understand this important theorist will find this book a useful companion. A. T. Vaver Brandeis University