The western canon the books and school of the ages is a 1994 book about western literature by the critic harold bloom in which the author defends the concept of the western canon by discussing 26 writers whom he sees as central to the canon summary bloom defends the . By harold bloom this page a the theocratic age 2000 bce 1321 ce b the aristocratic age 1321 1832 c the democratic age 1832 1900 d the chaotic age 20th century a the theocratic age since the literary canon is at issue here i include only those religious philosophical historical and scientific writings that are themselves of great aesthetic interest. Literary critic harold blooms the western canon is more than a required reading list it is a vision infused with a love of learning compelling in its arguments for a unifying written culture it argues brilliantly against the politicization of literature and presents a guide to the great works of the western literary tradition and essential writers of the ages. Harold bloom the prodigious literary critic who championed and defended the western canon in an outpouring of influential books that appeared not only on college syllabuses but also unusual