Art and Ardor

Art and Ardor cover
Good Books rating 4.62
Technical
  • ID: 4451
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2025-10-21
  • ISBN: 9781786491091
  • Publisher: Atlantic Books
  • Published: 2017-10-05
  • Reviews: 2

Art & Ardor is Cynthia Ozick's debut collection of non-fiction pieces, compiled from a variety of prestigious publications including The New Republic, Partisan Review, and The New York Review of Books. This volume covers the longest span of her seven essay collections, offering a rich tapestry of her intellectual explorations over 15 years. /n/n Ozick's essays delve into a wide range of topics, from literary criticism to cultural commentary, demonstrating her sharp wit and profound understanding of the arts. The collection is a testament to her enduring influence as a writer and thinker.

Reviews
The Literary Sisters · 2017-03-20
greatest 4.75

The collection is wide-ranging and includes extended essays on notable figures like Edith Wharton. It is considered one of the greatest essay collections of all time.

The reviewer highlights the wide-ranging nature of the essays, noting that the collection includes extended pieces on notable figures like Edith Wharton. This suggests a depth and breadth of content that makes the collection particularly valuable. The reviewer also places the collection among the greatest essay collections of all time, indicating a high regard for its quality and impact.


Quick quotes

    Among the pieces included in this collection of wide-ranging essays are two extended essays on Edith Wharton.

    This collection is a testament to Ozick's skill as an essayist and her ability to engage with a wide range of topics.

    It is a must-read for anyone interested in the essay form and its potential for deep exploration and insight.

Vanity Fair · 1983-06-01
brilliant 4.50

The essays are brilliant and cranky, coming out of Sinai with a sword, ready for battle. They are thought-provoking and engaging.

The reviewer describes the essays as brilliant and cranky, comparing them to coming out of Sinai with a sword, ready for battle. This metaphor suggests that the essays are not just intellectually stimulating but also passionate and combative in their arguments. The reviewer finds the collection thought-provoking and engaging, highlighting the depth and intensity of Ozick's writing.


Quick quotes

    Almost every essay in Cynthia Ozick's brilliant, cranky collection comes out of Sinai with a sword.

    She will do battle with the reader's preconceptions and leave them questioning their own beliefs.

    The essays are thought-provoking and engaging, making for a compelling read.