An Experiment in Criticism

Summary

In the book «An Experiment in Criticism», C.S. Lewis presents an original approach to evaluating literature. Instead of traditional critical analysis based on genres or styles, Lewis suggests assessing books by how they affect the reader. He categorizes readers into two groups: «users» and «receivers». The former read books to confirm their beliefs or for entertainment, while the latter read to expand their experience and understanding of the world. Lewis argues that the true value of a book lies in its ability to enrich the reader's inner world, rather than its adherence to literary canon criteria. Thus, he offers a new perspective on literary criticism, where the focus is not on what a book is, but on how it is perceived by the reader.