Terrific from first to last, and is, as he liked to put it, quite up-cheering ... It is an ideally slim book. The Man Who Read Everything limits itself to eight of Bloom’s correspondents ... It’s worth mentioning this book’s editor, Heather Cass White ... You feel you are in good hands from the start. Her introduction is exemplary, brisk without being hurried: It’s packed with exactly the information a reader needs before entering.
We are afforded a chance to hear what Bloom had to say for himself ... The persona that emerges from these pages is not ornery or intransigent but passionate and full of quirks ... Full of vivid episodes from a lifetime of literary and academic work. There are some tantalizing theoretical passages for critics, but most of the book’s material is the everyday business of forwarding manuscripts, preparing syllabi, and comparing translations of Lao Tzu ... Beyond the concerns of cultural theory and literary history, this short but rich selection of letters between Bloom and eight fellow writers offers much to ponder in the dim wintry light of our times.
