Presents an annotated edition of Shakespeare's "Troilus and Cressida," in which a love that begins during the siege of Troy ends in betrayal and death, and includes a scene-by-scene synopsis and analysis, commentary on various productions of the play, an overview of Shakespeare's work, and other resources

Sponsored by Trinity College of the University of Cambridge, The Clark Lectures have a long and distinguished history and have featured remarks by some of England's most important literary minds: Leslie Stephen, T. S. Eliot, F. R. Leavis, William Epsom, and I. A. Richards. All have given celebrated and widely influential talks as featured keynote speakers.n important milestone came in 1927 when, for the first time, a novelist was invited to speak:...

Likely written around 1607 or 1608 and attributed at least in part to Shakespeare, "Pericles, Prince of Tyre" is an adventure-filled play that follows the extended sailing journeys of a young prince. Pericles, a young prince from Phoenicia, is forced to flee Antioch when he correctly guesses a riddle that reveals the incestuous activity of King Antiochus. Unable to stay at home in Tyre because of Antiochus' vengeance, he sails away and ends up shipwrecked...

Renowned as one of the world's greatest poems, The Waste Land has been said to describe the moral decay of a world after war and the search for meaning in a meaningless era. It has been labeled the most truthful poem of its time; it has been branded a masterful fake. A century after its publication in 1922, T. S. Eliot's enigmatic masterpiece remains one of the most influential works ever written, and yet one of the most mysterious. In a remarkable...

"This critical edition of the epic 1968 Malian novel explores its enduring literary power and the plagiarism scandal that devastated its author, the first African winner of France's prestigious Renaudot Prize. An engrossing, tragic tale spanning the thirteenth to the twentieth century, Bound to Violence recounts the fate of the imaginary empire of Nakem and the dynasty of the Saïfs who reign there as devious masters. While the novel was initially...

This illustrated journey through lost, overlooked, and uncompleted works is “a fascinating enrichment of the history of sf and fantasy” (Booklist).
Science fiction and fantasy reign over popular culture now, associated in our mind with blockbuster movies and massive conventions. But there’s much more to the story than the headline-making hits. Lost Transmissions is a rich trove of forgotten and...

"Considered one of the most influential novels in American fiction in structure, style, and drama, As I Lay Dying is a true 20th-century classic. The story revolves around a grim yet darkly humorous pilgrimage, as Addie Bundren's family sets out to fulfil her last wish - to be buried in her native Jefferson, Mississippi, far from the miserable backwater surroundings of her married life. Narrated in turn by each of the family members - including Addie...

Thoroughly revised and expanded for a new generation of readers, this classic guide to enjoying literature to its fullest—a lively, enlightening, and entertaining introduction to a diverse range of writing and literary devices that enrich these works, including symbols, themes, and contexts—teaches you how to make your everyday reading experience richer and more rewarding.

While books can be enjoyed for their

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Explore the Hero's Journey in stories as old as humanity and as new as last night's dream

The latest incarnation of Oedipus, the continued romance of Beauty and the Beast, stand this afternoon on the corner of 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, waiting for the traffic light to change. — Joseph Campbell

Since its release in 1949, The Hero with a Thousand Faceshas influenced millions of readers by combining the insights

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"A man becomes a recluse when he's accused of a crime he did not commit Silas Marner is a skilled weaver working long hours in London for a Calvinist sect that does not appreciate him. When the congregation's funds are stolen, Silas is framed for the theft and excommunicated. Presumed guilty, abandoned by the love of his life, evicted from his modest home, and humiliated by the men he called his brothers, Silas wanders north to a small village in...