The last few decades have seen a veritable explosion in the production of critical theory. Deconstructionists, poststructuralists, postmodernists, second-wave feminists, new historicists, cultural materialists, postcolonialists, black critics and queer theorists, among a host of others, all vie for our attention. Introducing Critical Theory provides a route through this jungle. It puts into context recent developments by situating them within the longer-term tradition of critical analysis - back to the rise of Marxism. Special attention is paid to recurrent themes and concerns that have preoccupied a century of critical theoretical activity.