The first English-language anthology to provide a compendium of primary source material on the sublime. The book takes a chronological approach, covering the earliest ancient traditions up through the early and late modern periods and into contemporary theory. It takes an inclusive, interdisciplinary approach to this key concept in aesthetics and criticism, representing voices and traditions that have often been overlooked. As such, it will be of use and interest across the humanities and allied disciplines.
Review
“Robert Clewis has done heroic work in collecting the full range of important materials about the sublime from philosophy, art history, poetry, and criticism and in ably introducing them. This collection makes it possible for the first time to think systematically about special experiences of excitation, threat, and accession to power in a time when, for better and for worse, disruption looms large in many cultural and political agendas.” –
Richard Eldridge, Charles and Harriett Cox McDowell Professor of Philosophy, Swarthmore College, USA
“The Sublime Reader is a much needed first comprehensive anthology dedicated to the aesthetic sublime. The texts are masterfully selected with a view to covering a long history, from ancient to contemporary works in Western and Eastern aesthetic traditions, and to presenting a wide range of accounts of the experience and judgment of natural and artistic sublimity. This is an invaluable resource for students, instructors, the general audience seeking depth and breadth in the fascinating subject of the sublime.” –
Uygar Abaci, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, The Pennsylvania State University, USA
“The Sublime Reader fills a long-standing gap in the available resources for teaching and thinking about aesthetics. It is the first collection of extracts that sets ancient treatments of beauty, awe or wonder into dialogue with the more familiar eighteenth-century European discussion of the sublime and our own contemporary debates about the effects and value of aesthetic form and objects. This collection will expand the field as its deft and thoughtful juxtapositions stimulate further explorations in our understanding of what it means to be struck by wonder.” –
Peter de Bolla, Professor of Cultural History and Aesthetics, University of Cambridge, UK
“The Sublime Reader is a unique collection of readings from the entire breadth of historical and contemporary philosophical traditions on one of the most exciting topics in aesthetics. It is also unique in its coverage of contributions by writers from literature and the arts. The editor's clear introductions and stimulating study questions make this an ideal teaching tool. This book could be the text for an entire course in aesthetics or an invaluable resource for other courses in the field.” –
Paul Guyer, Jonathan Nelson Professor of Humanities and Philosophy, Brown University, USA
“The Sublime Reader is a much-needed compendium of both classic and underappreciated texts that, together, depict the origins and genealogy of this compelling idea. Robert Clewis has spent many years thinking and writing about the sublime, and this thoughtful and inclusive selection of cross-disciplinary primary materials is the best I've seen.” –
Andrew Chignell, Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor in Religion, Philosophy, and the University Center for Human Values, Princeton University, USA
Reviews also appeared in:
British Journal for the History of Philosophy (2020)
Journal of Comparative Literature and Aesthetics (2020)
