*

The great critic has a philosophy of literature: he is clear in his own mind as to the function of literature, and he knows the conditions under which this function can best be fulfilled. He praises and condemns not as most of us do, saying 'I don't like this, but I like that'; he has clear reasons for finding an author important or unimportant, and these reasons are related to his philosophy. He finds connections between authors who, as first sight, seem to have little to do with each other, and out of these connections he is able to build up the image of a 'tradition'.

—English Literature.
Anthony Burgess.