«The multidisciplinary approach of this book is on the cutting edge of literary methodology and will be a very important resource for scholars in historical research, in cultural studies and in literary theory and criticism. Ransom tackles very difficult theoretical questions on psychoanalysis and the nature of the fantastic, situates them for the reader, gives her own interpretation and evaluation of these questions and goes on to devise new theoretical questions from those posed by others. Professor Ransom works through theory in the first part of the book as a way to deal with the literature and its historical and cultural implications. Subsequent sections engage thoroughly with specific literary texts, pushing theory and expanding its practice. Ransom is one of those rare critics who is as comfortable explaining and refuting theory as she is giving a close reading of a text, and her close readings are among the best I have seen.» (Eileen B. Sivert, University of Minnesota) «I consider this volume a must for any college or university library.» (Philip E.

Kaveny, SFRA Review).