What does it mean to view literature as "art"? Why are some novels, poems, and plays "works of art" and not others? When does a written text become "literature", and what significance attaches to that? Standard literary criticism often attempts to address such questions, but a philosophical approach allows us to probe deeper and gain richer insights into the fundamental nature of the literary realm and why literature matters to us.

Philosophy of Literature provides a comprehensive exploration of this relatively new and increasingly influential branch of aesthetics. Peter Lamarque, a pre-eminent international scholar and one of the field’s leading exponents, lends his distinct and authoritative voice to this original work. Central issues in the philosophy of literature are explored in depth, including the idea of literature as art, the nature and ontology of literary works, the modes and assessment of literary interpretation, the role of truth and knowledge in the appreciation of literature, the basis for literary evaluation, and much more. Throughout the text, philosophical insights on these themes are illustrated by a wide variety of literary genres, including excerpts from well-known works of literature as well as works of literary criticism.

Philosophy of Literature will engage philosophers and literary critics alike with a wealth of stimulating new ideas on the nature and aesthetics of literature.