Quote by Christopher Hitchens

I had not particularly liked the way in which he wrote about literature in , and I was always on my guard if not outright hostile when any tincture of 'deconstruction' or 'postmodernism' was applied to my beloved canon of English writing, but when Edward talked about English literature and quoted from it, he passed the test that I always privately apply: Do you truly this subject and could you bear to live for one moment if it was obliterated?

I had not particularly liked the way in which he wrote about

Summary

In this quote, the speaker expresses their initial disliking towards the way someone wrote about literature and their skepticism towards deconstruction and postmodernism. However, they admit to a change of heart when the person, Edward, talks about English literature and quotes from it. The speaker mentions a personal test they have, which asks whether someone truly loves the subject of English literature and if they could bear the thought of it being completely erased. This quote highlights the speaker's reliance on passion and genuine appreciation for the subject as a basis for evaluating someone's understanding and credibility.

Topics

Literature Edward Said Literary Criticism Deconstructionism Postmodernism

By Christopher Hitchens

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