Steven Cassedy takes aim at two of the most enduring myths of modern criticism: that it is secular, and that it is new and autonomous. He argues that though modern criticism is often forbiddingly scientific and technical, the modern critic remains something of a mystic. Every school of modern criticism—from structuralism to postmodern criticism—rests on a faith in an "Eden," an irreducible essence, a myth, like the common myth that there is an intrinsic distinction between "poetic" language and "ordinary" language. The modern critic attempts to abandon all mystical faith; this is the "flight from Eden." But it is always in vain. It is traditionally assumed that modern literary criticism and theory came from France, and relatively recently. In fact, according to Cassedy, the entire modern critical consciousness was already formed by the early twentieth century in the minds of writers who were primarily neither professional critics nor philosophers, but poets. Some were French (Mallarmé, and Valéry); others were not (Rilke, Bely, and the Russian avant-garde poet Velimir Khlebnikov). In them we find the same Edenic faith, the same effort to abandon it, and the same failure of that effort. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1990.

"I spent all my life flying from city to city, and from continent to continent, but my best flight was still to come, the most important one.This one is going to take me from Earth to Eden, with an extremely Bright and Wise Man, with a profound and unique knowledge about the human being and the human body and its cells. Once you get to know Him, there is no way back. We only meet you for a reason, Master. Which reason is mine...? I know it now" ... whispers Nili.But I also know that the price of this flight is extremely high. I know that one day, somehow, it has to be paid... added Nili. I don't forget these things, like some of your previous passengers, who just took this flight for granted and left by jumping out, but into a free fall, before destination."..................................In his 7th book, Dr. Eden shares the messages that his dismissed disciple, Nili, sent him from Earth after he had decided to let her go by telling her this: "I must let people go, Nili. If they come back to me, they belong to my Eden, if they don't, they were never meant to be part of this Eden." She finally found her reason and didn't miss her last flight, the one to Eden: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Your Captain, Fabio Eden, speaking. Welcome on board on flight FA300 to Eden. Our unique destination is to reach a pure state of mind, to find our soul, the one we left in our childhood. We will go through many turbulences, and bumpy roads, but please don't panic, and trust and listen to your captain. I will inform you of all the procedures for your own safety and comfort in this flight to Eden.We will go over different climate changes, different sceneries, but please make sure that you will never want to leave this flight until the final destination. All sceneries are just the mirage images that may deceive you from your final destination, please don't be fooled by those superficial beauties and attractions on our road.This is the final flight for you, the last moment of decision to stay on Earth or to take off for Eden, the last turn of dice, and you were brave enough to take the right flight.If you don't trust your captain, you shouldn't be in this flight. I am your captain, maybe just for today, but surely for this life, and I came especially to Earth in order to take you back to Eden. Fabio Airlines thank you for your loyalty and wanting to be on board for our unique destination forever."

Civilization is advancing rapidly, the world population burgeoning. Satan has caused the fall of man and now wants complete control of Earth. all that stands in his way is that annoying line of humans descended from Seth; they insist on honoring their Creator. And there is that other problem, the prophecy spoken in the Garden of Eden about a Redeemer who's coming who has the power to "crush his head!" Knowing the Redeemer must be born of a human to be truly both human and God, Satan initiates a scheme to pollute the human bloodline and prevent the prophesy from coming to pass!

From takeoff to landing, this anthology is about flying and the culture surrounding this precarious method of transportation. Includes contributions by Diane Ackerman, Margaret Atwood, Albert Goldbarth, Lee Martin, Marilyn Nelson, Naomi Shahib Nye, and a host of others.