Best Critical Writing, edited by Nora Rawn & John Grafton, is an anthology of early (18th and 19th centuries) writing on the art and skill of criticism/critical writing.

These are selected for both their value as an introduction to critical writing as well as because they are often used in college courses. The Dover Thrift Editions are ideal for courses that might require a number of different books. They provide the necessary texts on less expensive but durable paper, so it is less costly for the students. My introduction to these books was, as you can guess, through academia.

But academia is not the only place where these are handy. Many people would like to read more classics but don't want to buy costly editions if they don't really plan to display them. These are great for readers who simply want to read a text.

As for this particular collection, it is very well planned. The entries are both engaging and discuss critical writing from different perspectives. A few essays will probably sound odd to the 21st century ear but will reward you if you let yourself get used to the flow and word selection. Several are actually quite entertaining as well as informative.

Highly recommended for those who like to keep learning outside the classroom environment as well as for students (or faculty members choosing next term's books). If you're wanting a well-rounded library but aren't overly concerned with visual aesthetics, this is a great edition.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )