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The Strange Necessity: Essays
Paperback
Art HistoryLetters & EssaysLiterary Criticism
ISBN13: 9781025331812
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 396
Weight: 1.22
Height: 0.81 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Strange Necessity: Essays is a profound and wide-ranging collection of literary criticism and philosophical reflection by the acclaimed writer Rebecca West. At the heart of the volume is the title essay, an influential exploration into the nature of art and its indispensable role in the human experience. West investigates why art-particularly literature-is a psychological and social necessity, moving beyond mere decoration to become a vital component of existence.
The collection features West's sharp, incisive analysis of major contemporary figures and works, including a significant and nuanced critique of James Joyce's Ulysses, alongside reflections on the works of Marcel Proust, George Bernard Shaw, and Arnold Bennett. With her characteristic wit and intellectual rigor, West examines the intersection of psychology, aesthetics, and culture. These essays capture a pivotal moment in modernist thought, offering readers a window into the mind of one of the twentieth century's most formidable critics. The Strange Necessity: Essays remains an essential work for those interested in the evolution of modern literature, the philosophy of art, and the enduring power of the written word.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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