The ideas Aristotle outlined in his poetics have formed the foundation for the whole history of Western critical theory, No work has had more influence upon the literature of centuries - neither has any been so profoundly, so perversely misunderstood. Kenneth Mcleish's introduction cuts through centuries of accreted obscurity to reveal the forthright, astonishingly original book which Aristotle actually wrote. The philosopher who emerges proves more ' modern ' than any of his interpreters.