The Politically Incorrect Guide to English and American Literature
Encyclopedia
The Politically Incorrect Guide to English and American Literature is the sixth book in Regnery Publishing
's Politically Incorrect Guide series, published in December 2006.
The book argues that the study of literature in universities today is distorted by theories - developed in the 1960s at Yale
and expanding through the 1970s and 1980s - that are aimed at attacking western civilization and Christianity
for their alleged racism
and sexism
. This critical theory
is believed by Kantor to have caused professors to replace the well-established literary canon with politically correct
literature such as Margaret Atwood
's The Handmaid's Tale
, Toni Morrison
and Dan Brown
, or with theories such as Marxism
and Freudianism.
The main body of The Politically Incorrect Guide to English and American Literature, however, is focused upon an overview of the classic canon
of English literature extending from Beowulf
to Evelyn Waugh
. There is another chapter after this discussing American literature
from Nathaniel Hawthorne
to Flannery O'Connor
. Each chapter has:
Along with these are a list of important themes to the classic canon of English literature, together with explanations why politically correct literature professors do not want their students to learn. In the opinion of Kantor, these politically correct professors want to make sure students learn to despise western civilization and Christianity so that they are unable to reconsider the positions they acquire on classic literature after finishing their courses. Kantor believes that this is likely to help accelerate the decline of western civilization and its replacement with a very different culture which she believes will be much worse for everybody.
, Islam
, Darwinism, and Global Warming, The Politically Incorrect Guide to English and American Literature never made the New York Times Best Seller list
. Consequently, it was subject to much less adverse criticism than the above-mentioned books, with the most notable criticism of Kantor coming from Chet Scoville, who argued that there are still courses specifically devoted to classic literature and as a result it is wrong to claim as Kantor does that they are being left out.
Regnery Publishing
Regnery Publishing in Washington, D.C., is a publisher which specializes in conservative books characterized on their website as "contrary to those of 'mainstream' publishers in New York." Since 1993, Regnery Publishing has been a division of Eagle Publishing, which also owns the weekly magazine...
's Politically Incorrect Guide series, published in December 2006.
The book argues that the study of literature in universities today is distorted by theories - developed in the 1960s at Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
and expanding through the 1970s and 1980s - that are aimed at attacking western civilization and Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
for their alleged racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and sexism
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
. This critical theory
Critical theory
Critical theory is an examination and critique of society and culture, drawing from knowledge across the social sciences and humanities. The term has two different meanings with different origins and histories: one originating in sociology and the other in literary criticism...
is believed by Kantor to have caused professors to replace the well-established literary canon with politically correct
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
literature such as Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood, is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. She is among the most-honoured authors of fiction in recent history; she is a winner of the Arthur C...
's The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel, a work of science fiction or speculative fiction, written by Canadian author Margaret Atwood and first published by McClelland and Stewart in 1985...
, Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison is a Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, editor, and professor. Her novels are known for their epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly detailed characters. Among her best known novels are The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon and Beloved...
and Dan Brown
Dan Brown
Dan Brown is an American author of thriller fiction, best known for the 2003 bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code. Brown's novels, which are treasure hunts set in a 24-hour time period, feature the recurring themes of cryptography, keys, symbols, codes, and conspiracy theories...
, or with theories such as Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and Freudianism.
The main body of The Politically Incorrect Guide to English and American Literature, however, is focused upon an overview of the classic canon
Western canon
The term Western canon denotes a canon of books and, more broadly, music and art that have been the most important and influential in shaping Western culture. As such, it includes the "greatest works of artistic merit." Such a canon is important to the theory of educational perennialism and the...
of English literature extending from Beowulf
Beowulf
Beowulf , but modern scholars agree in naming it after the hero whose life is its subject." of an Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in Scandinavia, commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature.It survives in a single...
to Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
. There is another chapter after this discussing American literature
American literature
American literature is the written or literary work produced in the area of the United States and its preceding colonies. For more specific discussions of poetry and theater, see Poetry of the United States and Theater in the United States. During its early history, America was a series of British...
from Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer.Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in the city of Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His ancestors include John Hathorne, a judge during the Salem Witch Trials...
to Flannery O'Connor
Flannery O'Connor
Mary Flannery O'Connor was an American novelist, short-story writer and essayist. An important voice in American literature, O'Connor wrote two novels and 32 short stories, as well as a number of reviews and commentaries...
. Each chapter has:
- a list of literature the author says serious students "must not miss"
- boxed tests discussing "What PC professors don't want you to learn from..." (various authors)
Along with these are a list of important themes to the classic canon of English literature, together with explanations why politically correct literature professors do not want their students to learn. In the opinion of Kantor, these politically correct professors want to make sure students learn to despise western civilization and Christianity so that they are unable to reconsider the positions they acquire on classic literature after finishing their courses. Kantor believes that this is likely to help accelerate the decline of western civilization and its replacement with a very different culture which she believes will be much worse for everybody.
Criticism and public response
Unlike the Guides to American HistoryThe Politically Incorrect Guide to American History
The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History, by Thomas Woods, was published in December 2004. This book was the first in the Politically Incorrect Guide series published by Regnery Publishing, who view the series as covering topics without consideration for political correctness. The book...
, Islam
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (And the Crusades)
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam is a controversial book by Robert Spencer, the director of Jihad Watch. It is part of The Politically Incorrect Guide series by Regnery Publishing.-Content :...
, Darwinism, and Global Warming, The Politically Incorrect Guide to English and American Literature never made the New York Times Best Seller list
New York Times Best Seller list
The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is published weekly in The New York Times Book Review magazine, which is published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times and as a stand-alone publication...
. Consequently, it was subject to much less adverse criticism than the above-mentioned books, with the most notable criticism of Kantor coming from Chet Scoville, who argued that there are still courses specifically devoted to classic literature and as a result it is wrong to claim as Kantor does that they are being left out.