Has loads of literary terms. Not sure about the theory.

It does the job.

Good.

Not a comprehensive dictionary of literary terms but a useful one. We are using this as our textbook in an intro creative writing class and this comes in handy when discussing various topics.

I purchased this book in order to better understand literary terms and theory. It turned out to be not just a "dictionary" but a thematic reader that changed my way of thinking and teaching literary analysis semester after semester in my college classes. One can actually read this dictionary as a fast paced best seller...it is succinct, pithy, hysterical in places, intellectually serious in other places, but it does serve not only the teacher well, but anyone who has the desire to understand the nuances of writing. This 4th Edition has expanded the definition of why and how the most popular forms of fiction (ghost/horror, detective, gothic, and thriller) stories have so much appeal. Cuddon's (the primary author) work surpasses Magill's "Critical Survey of Long Fiction" by far and can be used to reawaken an intense interest and better understanding about what goes into writing a novel. An excellent dictionary in every respect.