Genre is a key means by which we categorize the many forms of literature and culture. But it is also much more than that: in talk and writing, in music and images, in film and television, genres actively generate and shape our knowledge of the world. Understanding genre as a dynamic process rather than a set of stable rules, this book explores:* the relation of simple to complex genres* the history of literary genre in theory* the generic organisation of implied meanings* the structuring of interpretation by genre* the uses of genre in teaching. John Frow’s lucid exploration of this fascinating concept will be essential reading for students of literary and cultural studies.