The boxed four-volume set does not aspire to be a history of world literature, but rather to discuss three fundamental questions that have inhibited the conception and realization such
histories, at least in English, since the end of World War II. They address the notion of literature (volume one), the problem of genres (volume two), and encounters between literary cultures
(volumes three and four). In the process, they do present some interesting perspectives on particular cases, and highlight how a number of cultures around the world relate their verbal
production to their cultural life and their self- defining narrative practices. With a few exceptions, the contributors are Swedish scholars of literature. Each volume is paged and indexed
separately. Annotation 穢2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
