Uncover the nuanced concept of ‘affect’ in literary studies. This vital guide charts the evolution of ‘affect’—the very experience of feeling—from its philosophical origins in classical thought, eighteenth-century aesthetics, Marxist, psychoanalytic, queer, and postcolonial theories. Delve into readings that apply these critical concepts, examining their profound relevance to contemporary media, capitalism, ecology, and social discourse. Essential for academics, literature students, and researchers, this book illuminates the intricate connection between emotion and literary interpretation for the modern era.