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From one of today's most distinguished critics, a beautifully written exploration of one of the twentieth century's most important literary criticsAre literary critics writers? As Michael Wood says, "Not all critics are writers -- perhaps most of them are not -- and some of them are better when they don't try to be." The British critic and poet William Empson (1906-84) , one of the most important and influential critics of the twentieth century, was an exception -- a critic who was not only a writer but also a great one. In this brief book, Wood, himself one of the most gifted writers among contemporary critics, explores Empson as a writer, a distinguished poet whose criticism is a brilliant literary performance -- and proof that the act of reading can be an unforgettable adventure.