In an era when many scholars and critics can't seem to see the forest of literature for the trees of theory, objective readings of texts are few and far between. In Devotions to the Text, Steven Carter seeks to counter this trend by demonstrating that Samuel Johnson's admonition to "empty your mind of cant" is still sage advice for today's readers, both private and professional. Devotions to the Text constitutes a bold act of rebellion against those who would transform texts into mirrors that reflect only their own ideas and/or ideologies.

"In his many years in the classroom and as one of our most astute literary scholars and cultural critics, Carter has been witness to the shifts in the field of literary studies, yet has remained unwavering in his commitment to close, textual readings and careful analysis. With this book, he hopes that students and scholars will once again recognize the importance of devotion to the text…[and he] clearly demonstrates why formalism remains a relevant and necessary component of critical literary study." - Bridges