Sociological aspects of the literary system

"Sociological Aspects of the Literary System contains a modern sociological approach to some classical problems of literature. The author shows that it is possible to measure, quantitatively and objectively, aspects of such elusive phenomena as the success of a writer, the rate of changes in the literary milieu, structures in the literary frame of reference. The results of such measurements, he claims, could to advantage be expressed in terms of sociological theories already in existence, instead of the everyday language of traditional history of literature. The sociological approach makes the author question the importance of the individual writer and critic, cherished by traditional history of literature."--Book cover."