Letters from Tomis

My Socialist Hall of Fame

During this chaotic era of vile rhetoric and manipulative tactics from our so-called bourgeois leaders, I am invigorated by the opportunity to reflect on Socialists, Revolutionaries, Philosophers, Guerrilla Leaders, Partisans, and Critical Theory titans, champions, and martyrs who paved the way for us—my own audacious “Socialism’s Hall of Fame.” These are my heroes and fore-bearers. Not all are perfect, or even fully admirable, but all contributed in some way to our future–either as icons to emulate, or as warnings to avoid in the future.

Terry Eagleton, born on February 22, 1943, in Salford, England, is one of Britain’s most prominent literary theorists and critics, widely recognized for his insightful and often provocative Marxist interpretations of literature and culture. Eagleton’s extensive academic career has seen him teach at various prestigious institutions, including the Universities of Oxford, Manchester, and Lancaster. His incisive critiques have significantly influenced debates surrounding literature, ideology, and society, establishing him as a central figure in contemporary literary theory.

Eagleton was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied English under the guidance of renowned literary critic Raymond Williams. His early work focused on literary theory, heavily informed by Marxist philosophy, which became foundational to his subsequent scholarship. Eagleton’s critical writings are notable for their accessibility and wit, engaging both academic and general audiences.

Over his career, Eagleton has vigorously defended Marxist literary criticism against postmodern and neoliberal critiques, asserting the continued relevance of Marxist ideas in interpreting cultural phenomena. His notable contributions include rigorous examinations of ideology, aesthetics, ethics, and theology, all interconnected with literature and culture.

Selected Bibliography:

• Eagleton, Terry. Marxism and Literary Criticism. London: Methuen, 1976.

• Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: An Introduction. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1983.

• Eagleton, Terry. The Ideology of the Aesthetic. Oxford: Blackwell, 1990.

• Eagleton, Terry. Ideology: An Introduction. London: Verso, 1991.

• Eagleton, Terry. The Illusions of Postmodernism. Oxford: Blackwell, 1996.

• Eagleton, Terry. After Theory. London: Penguin, 2003.

• Eagleton, Terry. How to Read Literature. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2013.

• Eagleton, Terry. Culture and the Death of God. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2014.

• Eagleton, Terry. Materialism. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2017.

• Eagleton, Terry. Radical Sacrifice. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2018.

• Eagleton, Terry. Humour. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2019.

Eagleton remains an influential voice, continuing to publish and lecture extensively on literature, theory, politics, and culture, critically engaging contemporary social and intellectual issues.