For most people literary criticism is a mystery that often seems inaccessible, written for an in-group. Even worse, a Battle of the Books has broken out between neoconservatives and neoradicals--all the more reason to steer clear of the fray. Geoffrey Hartman argues that ignoring the culture wars would be unwise, for what is at stake is the nature of the arts we prize and our obligation to remain civil and avoid the apocalyptic tone of most political prophecy. Hartman's book is both a survey of the history of modern literary criticism and a strategic intervention. First he presents an account of the culture of criticism in the last one hundred years. He then widens the focus to provide a picture of the critical essay from 1700 to the present in order to show that a major change in style took place after 1950. Two chapters focus on F. R. Leavis and Paul de Man, central--and controversial--figures in academic criticism. Hartman attends to major developments on the continent and in Anglo-American circles that have disrupted the calm of what he calls the friendship or conversational style. On the one hand, critics and thinkers have pursued strange gods in order to enrich and sharpen their critical style. This change Hartman welcomes. On the other hand, along with a renewed interest in politics and historical speculation, a didactic and moralistic tone has again entered the scene. Hartman rejects this new moralism. The author is an eloquent defender of reading the text of criticism as carefully as the text of literature. He argues for a broader conception of critical style, one that would support the open and conversational voice of the public critic as well as the inventive and innovative practice of the technical critic. Hartman sets before us an ideal of literary criticism that can acknowledge theory yet does not shrink from a sustained, text-centered response. Minor Prophecies is a major book by one of our finest critics.

The Oxford Handbook of the Minor Prophets provides a clear and engaging one-volume guide to the major interpretative questions currently engaging scholars of the twelve Minor Prophets by collecting 40 essays by both established and emerging scholars who explore a wide range of methodological perspectives. Divided into four sections, the first group of essays is devoted to historical studies which consider the manuscript evidence for these books and overview debates about how, when, and by whom they were composed. Essays dealing with literary explorations consider the genres and rhetorical style of the material, key themes, and intertextual connections with other sections of the Jewish and Christian canons. A large section on the history of interpretation traces the ways in which past and present confessional communities, scholars, and artists have understood the Minor Prophets. In the final section, essays on individual books of the twelve Minor Prophets explore the structure, themes, and contested issues of each book.

This study surveys the structure, message, and theological themes of each of the twelve minor prophets.

Introductions to the Old Testament books of Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi are followed by verse-by-verse comments on the text.

Many see the Minor Prophets as dusty old men who are irrelevant to the 21st Century world. However, on further reading, we encounter real people who were brave enough to challenge the attitudes and behaviours of their generation. Speaking prophetically, they called their nation back to God even when it cost them personally which it usually did. They suffered harassment, rejection and sometimes death but proclaimed their message faithfully. That is why I have called this book ‘everybody hurts’: their message was painful to deliver and painful to receive. As you read this book, you will find out a little more about these men and the context in which they were bringing their message. This includes a synopsis of the political and social situation of the times, as well as a view of the history that formed the backdrop to their words. The message they were given to bring into those situations is summarised and then mapped to our own context. The reader will be left in no doubt that the words of these men are as relevant today as when they were first given. This book contains a prophetic message that speaks right into our own generation which we would do well to heed. Richard Bradbury is based in Beverley, East Yorkshire and leads Beverley Community Church. He also represents the Groundlevel network of churches in Churches Together in England. Married with four children, his primary gifting is as a teacher to the Body of Christ. Book reviews online: PublishedBestsellers website.