Presents an argued theory of the literary work as an art form. Drawing on post-Gricean pragmatics and Nicholas Wolterstorff's notion of presentationality, the author develops the idea of the verbal text and conveys an integrated understanding of literary experience, its conditions, and the values it affords.

"Verbal Art makes a significant contribution to the theory of literature. Pettersson's detailed account of literary communication is presented with a large dose of good sense and is usefully integrated with excellent examples and discussion of a number of important issues in the philosophy of literature such as those concerning the cognitive value of literature, the inexhaustibility of literary meaning, emotional reactions to fictional works, and the autonomy of the literary work. He introduces into literary theory a more empirically sound scientific perspective then those often appealed to in the discipline, such as Freudian, Marxist, structuralist, and semiotic perspectives." Robert Stecker, Department of Philosophy, Central Michigan University "An ambitious book that makes a worthwhile contribution to philosophy of literature/literary theory. Pettersson presents a sustained and persuasive argument for an important and, nowadays, frequently neglected position." James O. Young, Department of Philosophy, University of Victoria