WAITING FOR THE BARBARIANS, by Daniel Mendelsohn

Waiting for the Barbarians is an entertaining eclectic collection of critical essays on a wide range of literary and pop culture works (e.g., Spider Man, Mad Men). It helps that the author is a classicist, as he reviews both classical works (e.g., The Illiad), and more modern works (e.g.,Franzen's The Correction), often through a classical lens. He also discusses several works from a gay or queer theory perspective that seems appropriate to his choices (e.g., Wilde, Sontag, Edmund White). He is an exacting and outspoken critic with well thought-out views that are written in a wonderfully readable style.

For a review of the book by The Guardian, click here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/jan/06/waiting-barbarians-daniel-mendelsohn-review