This book is "The history of criticism and literary taste in Europe from the earliest texts to the present day. Volume 2 (of 3). From the Renaissance to the Decline of Eighteenth-Century Orthodoxy, by George Saintsbury, is an important work that explores the influence of various literary movements and critical views on European literature over the centuries. Beginning with the Renaissance and ending with the fading of orthodoxy in the eighteenth century, the author carefully examines the development of literary criticism and the taste of its readers. In this book, the work of famous writers and critics of the era is analyzed in detail, and their influence on the formation of literary standards and creativity is revealed. The author manages to find a connection between sociocultural and historical conditions and the perception of literature in each era. A History of Criticism and Literary Taste in Europe is an invaluable resource both for academic research in literary studies and for anyone interested in European history and culture. The author brings his unrivaled analytical approach to this wide-ranging history of criticism and literary taste, making the book an integral part of the cultural oeuvre.