![Harold Bloom, colossus of American letters who defended the primacy of the traditional greats of western literature – obituary Harold Bloom, colossus of American letters who defended the primacy of the traditional greats of western literature – obituary](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/obituaries/2019/10/15/TELEMMGLPICT000213098052_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqqVzuuqpFlyLIwiB6NTmJwba5LszoNYLJPTMpkL2t_Ac.jpeg)
Harold Bloom, colossus of American letters who defended the primacy of the traditional greats of western literature – obituary
![Harold Bloom death: Best-selling literary critic who wrote The Western Canon dies, aged 89 | The Independent | The Independent Harold Bloom death: Best-selling literary critic who wrote The Western Canon dies, aged 89 | The Independent | The Independent](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/10/14/10/gettyimages-488300440.jpg?quality=75&width=230&auto=webp)
Harold Bloom death: Best-selling literary critic who wrote The Western Canon dies, aged 89 | The Independent | The Independent
![Harold Bloom, colossus of American letters who defended the primacy of the traditional greats of western literature – obituary Harold Bloom, colossus of American letters who defended the primacy of the traditional greats of western literature – obituary](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/obituaries/2019/10/15/TELEMMGLPICT000001494320_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqaBJSHwufYM_Fh0ArUj1hen6jm8JmtdbOYDNXtsUnvuU.jpeg)