ELT & Literary Studies Books

3765 products


  • Other Influences

    MIT Press Ltd Other Influences

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisA compelling collection of original essays on influence that restore a feminist avant-garde that includes women of colour, queer, and trans women.

    5 in stock

    £22.95

  • Conquered

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Conquered

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisOutstanding. - The Sunday TimesBeautifully written. The TimesSuperbly adroit. The SpectatorExcellent. BBC History MagazineThe Battle of Hastings and its aftermath nearly wiped out the leading families of Anglo-Saxon England so what happened to the children this conflict left behind?Conquered offers a fresh take on the Norman Conquest by exploring the lives of those children, who found themselves uprooted by the dramatic events of 1066. Among them were the children of Harold Godwineson and his brothers, survivors of a family shattered by violence who were led by their courageous grandmother Gytha to start again elsewhere. Then there were the last remaining heirs of the Anglo-Saxon royal line Edgar Ætheling, Margaret, and Christina who sought refuge in Scotland, where Margaret became a beloved queen and saint. Other survivors, such as Waltheof of Northumbria and Fenland hero Hereward, became Trade ReviewConquered is beautifully produced and written with flair and great scholarly acumen. Parker teaches medieval English literature at the University of Oxford and she dedicates her book to her students. Because of the pandemic these young people, she points out, like the young people in her book, have had to cope with upheaval, loss and a sudden change in the expected course of their lives. They have faced it with courage and determination, but, she writes, “it is no doubt an experience that will remain with them”. -- John Carey * The Sunday Times *In her superbly adroit new history, Eleanor Parker examines how memories of Edgar and his like – the generation that straddled the Conquest – survived, or were melded to meet the needs of the time…. It is much to the credit of Parker’s sensitivity as a scholar that, almost 1,000 years later, she has been able to resurrect, often from silence, the pathos of those decades and the plight of those who endured them. -- Alex Burghart * The Spectator *This outstanding, beautifully written history follows the young Anglo-Saxons whose lives were shattered by the Norman conquest. -- Andrew Holgate and Robbie Millen * The Times, Best Books of 2022 *This excellent book offers an original premise: that there is much to learn by considering the children whose lives were upended by the Conquest… Parker insightfully shows how the experiences of these children of Anglo-Saxons (among others) illustrate the accommodations being made in England as conquered and conquerors adjusted to the new reality, and reframed the 1066 narrative for future generations. -- Dave Musgrove * BBC History Magazine *A child grasps a woman’s hand as they flee a house being torched by two men seemingly unconcerned for their plight. This image, embroidered onto the Bayeux Tapestry several years after 1066, is a hauntingly timeless reminder of the devastation warfare and conquest can wreak on individuals, families and communities... Conquered narrates their stories vividly and knowledgably in a refreshing departure from popular narratives of the Norman Conquest, which concentrate on the political and military concerns of adult men. -- Emily J. Ward * Times Literary Supplement *Fascinating and accessible. -- Sarah Foot * The Church Times *This book is a revelation. What it demonstrates is the international inter-connectedness of the pre-Norman secular and ecclesiastical aristocracy. -- Duncan Bowie * The Charist *Eleanor Parker has written an innovative book in clear and evocative language. She invites the reader to engage with an idea we do not often consider—that many of the European historical sources from the late-11th century were written by people whose childhoods were defined by the Norman Conquest. Parker’s use of Icelandic Sagas and other non-English texts shows us the world in which these “conquered” children lived and worked, exploring how their stories continued past 1066 and its aftermath. * Dr Janet Kay, Associate Research Scholar and Lecturer, Department of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University, USA *Eleanor Parker brings to life what the upheaval of the Norman Conquest meant for men and women in England. Following the personal experiences of individuals, she eloquently evokes the loss and uncertainty of the age. This is a book of rich stories of misfortune, perseverance and adaptability, told in an accessible yet authoritative voice. * Dr Rory Naismith, Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic and Fellow of Corpus Christi College, University of Cambridge, UK *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgements Genealogical Tables Introduction 1. Hero of the English: Hereward 2. A Sparrow in the Snare: Margaret of Scotland 3. A Lost Generation: The Grandchildren of Gytha and Godwine 4. Warrior, Traitor, and Martyr: Waltheof 5. Child of Memory: Eadmer of Canterbury Epilogue: New Englands Bibliography Index

    15 in stock

    £11.69

  • The Common Reader

    HarperCollins Publishers The Common Reader

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.The only advice, indeed, that one person can give another about reading is to take no advice, to follow your own instincts, to use your own reason, to come to your own conclusions.In her second volume of essays, Virginia Woolf delves deeper into the delights of reading. Here, she explores the novels of Thomas Hardy and Daniel Defoe, and recounts the fascinating lives of Christina Rossetti and Mary Wollstonecraft. In How Should One Read a Book?' she offers sage advice for the common reader, and sheds light on the lessons and pleasures literature can provide.Published in 1932, The Common Reader: Second Series is a wise and illuminating companion collection to her 1925 First Series. Woolf's enduring appeal and ideas continue to resonate with readers in the twenty-first century.

    3 in stock

    £5.68

  • My Beloved Wager: Essays from a Writing Practice

    NeWest Press My Beloved Wager: Essays from a Writing Practice

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisMy Beloved Wager gathers essays by noted poet and translator Erín Moure, and records a quarter century of writing practice emerging from a city of exhilarating poetic and translatory possibility: Montreal. In her essays and linguistic-sculptural interventions on what poetry makes possible, Moure reveals why she has placed her bets on poetry as a way of life. In these works, the richness of poetry is laid bare as Moure challenges us to think more deeply about who we are as speakers, readers, writers, and citizens of the world.

    1 in stock

    £14.99

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream (No Fear Shakespeare):

    Spark A Midsummer Night's Dream (No Fear Shakespeare):

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisRead Shakespeare’s plays in all their brilliance—and understand what every word means! Don’t be intimidated by Shakespeare! These popular guides make the Bard’s plays accessible and enjoyable.Each No Fear guide contains: The complete text of the original play A line-by-line translation that puts the words into everyday language A complete list of characters, with descriptions Plenty of helpful commentary

    15 in stock

    £7.59

  • The Land of the Green Man

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Land of the Green Man

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisBeyond its housing estates and identikit high streets there is another Britain. This is the Britain of mist-drenched forests and unpredictable sea-frets: of wraith-like fog banks, druidic mistletoe and peculiar creatures that lurk, half-unseen, in the undergrowth, tantalising and teasing just at the periphery of human vision. How have the remarkably persistent folkloric traditions of the British Isles formed and been formed by the identities and psyches of those who inhabit them? In her sparkling new history, Carolyne Larrington explores the diverse ways in which a myriad of imaginary and fantastical beings has moulded the cultural history of the nation. Fairies, elves and goblins here tread purposefully, sometimes malignly, over an eerie, preternatural landscape that also conceals brownies, selkies, trows, knockers, boggarts, land-wights, Jack o''Lanterns, Barguests, the sinister Nuckleavee, or water-horse, and even Black Shuck: terrifying hell-hound of the Norfolk coast with eyes

    5 in stock

    £14.24

  • The Comedy About a Bank Robbery Modern Plays

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Comedy About a Bank Robbery Modern Plays

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisI'm really looking forward to robbing this bank!Mischief's smash-and-grab hit The Comedy About A Bank Robbery is a fast, fabulous comedy caper and the funniest show in the West End! Summer 1958. Minneapolis City Bank has been entrusted with a priceless diamond. An escaped convict is dead set on pocketing the gem with the help of his screwball sidekick, trickster girlfriend and the maintenance man. With mistaken identities, love triangles and hidden agendas, even the most reputable can't be trusted. In a town where everyone's a crook, who will end up bagging the jewel?Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, the creators of the Olivier Award-winning Best New Comedy The Play That Goes Wrong and Peter Pan Goes Wrong, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery opened at the Criterion Theatre in London's West End in April 2016.The best new comedy to open straight into the West End in decades'Time OutThrilling and daringly inveTrade Review‘This is the funniest show in town’ * The Telegraph *Fast and fabulous comedy caper is a joyful night out * The Times *The team behind ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ hit the funnybone again...The best new comedy to open straight into the West End in decades * Time Out *Thrilling and daringly inventive...This lung-bustingly funny play is just what the therapist ordered * The Guardian *

    15 in stock

    £10.99

  • The Penguin Classics Book

    Penguin Books Ltd The Penguin Classics Book

    3 in stock

    Book Synopsis**Shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year**The Penguin Classics Book is a reader''s companion to the largest library of classic literature in the world.Spanning 4,000 years from the legends of Ancient Mesopotamia to the poetry of the First World War, with Greek tragedies, Icelandic sagas, Japanese epics and much more in between, it encompasses 500 authors and 1,200 books, bringing these to life with lively descriptions, literary connections and beautiful cover designs.Trade ReviewBeautifully designed and lovingly compiled * The Spectator *Smartly illustrated with original cover artwork-ideal for glancing over dearly loved literary companions, as well as for discovering gaps to fill . . . This is a fascinating survey of how our nation's literary tastes have altered over the years and makes us wonder anew at what constitutes a 'classic'. -- Emily Rhodes * Country Life *The perfect gift for bibliophiles * The Arts Society UK *I can't imagine a better or more beautifully presented reference for a book-lover -- Waterstones.com review

    3 in stock

    £27.00

  • Rooms of Their Own

    Quarto Publishing PLC Rooms of Their Own

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisRooms of Their Own travels around the world, examining the unique spaces in which famous writers created their most notable work. Table of ContentsIntroduction Isabel Allende Maya Angelou Margaret Atwood W.H. Auden Jane Austen James Baldwin Honoré de Balzac Ray Bradbury The Brontës Anton Chekhov Agatha Christie Colette Roald Dahl Charles Dickens Emily Dickinson Arthur Conan Doyle Ian Fleming Thomas Hardy Ernest Hemingway Victor Hugo Samuel Johnson Judith Kerr Stephen King Rudyard Kipling D.H. Lawrence Astrid Lindgren Jack London Hilary Mantel Margaret Mitchell Michel de Montaigne Haruki Murakami George Orwell Sylvia Plath Beatrix Potter Marcel Proust J.K. Rowling Vita Sackville-West George Bernard Shaw Zadie Smith Danielle Steel Gertrude Stein John Steinbeck Dylan Thomas Mark Twain Kurt Vonnegut Edith Wharton E.B. White P.G. Wodehouse Virginia Woolf William Wordsworth Visitor Information Index Picture credits

    15 in stock

    £15.99

  • On Longing

    Duke University Press On Longing

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisMiniature books, eighteenth-century novels, Tom Thumb weddings, tall tales, and objects of tourism and nostalgia: this diverse group of cultural forms is the subject of On Longing, a fascinating analysis of the ways in which everyday objects are narrated to animate or realize certain versions of the world. Originally published in 1984 (Johns Hopkins University Press), and now available in paperback for the first time, this highly original book draws on insights from semiotics and from psychoanalytic, feminist, and Marxist criticism. Addressing the relations of language to experience, the body to scale, and narratives to objects, Susan Stewart looks at the 'miniature' as a metaphor for interiority and at the 'gigantic' as an exaggeration of aspects of the exterior. In the final part of her essay Stewart examines the ways in which the 'souvenir' and the 'collection' are objects mediating experience in time and space.Trade Review"Stewart's work provides an oasis in contemporary criticism, a place where theory and poetry, systematic reflection and the essayistic plunge into particular cases, come together in a refreshing synthesis."—W. J. T. Mitchell"The historical richness, psychological insight and sociological subtlety of the analyses Stewart develops in On Longing are exemplary for cultural studies."—Barbara Herrnstein Smith

    15 in stock

    £18.89

  • Longus Daphnis and Chloe Aris  Phillips Classical

    Liverpool University Press Longus Daphnis and Chloe Aris Phillips Classical

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis edition of Daphnis and Chloe , the best known of the Greek romances, provides the first modern commentary in English on this intriguing work. This is the story of two young people growing up as goatherd and shepherdess, and their discovery of love, sex and their true selves.Trade ReviewI warmly recommend this volume to those interested in ancient fiction and Greek literature in the Roman empire...it will be difficult to supersede the wealth of information and ideas offered in this elegantly produced book.'Table of ContentsPreface INTRODUCTION DAPHNIS AND CHLOE Book one Book two Book three Book four COMMENTARY Book one Book two Book three Book four

    15 in stock

    £25.29

  • Frankenstein

    WW Norton & Co Frankenstein

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisTrade Review"A wonderful critical edition. I’m impressed with the quality of the essays. I will use this book in my Brit Lit II survey course." -- Mary Thompson, University of Sussex"This is a magnificent edition of Frankenstein! The articles selected are really relevant... The notes are also significant and informative, and the materials are equally interesting. Very good indeed!" -- Dr. Antonio Gonzales, Filologia Moderna, University of Castilla–La Mancha, Spain

    15 in stock

    £25.51

  • The Call of the Wild and White Fang

    Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc The Call of the Wild and White Fang

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Call of the Wild (1903) and White Fang (1906) are two classic American adventure novels by Jack London depicting the evolution of two dogs in the wild, now presented together in this elegantly designed jacketed hardcover edition.

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • Animal Farm SparkNotes Literature Guide

    Spark Animal Farm SparkNotes Literature Guide

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhen an essay is due and dreaded exams loom, this title offers students what they need to succeed. It provides chapter-by-chapter analysis, explanations of key themes, motifs, and symbols, a review quiz and essay topics. It is suitable for late-night studying and paper writing.

    5 in stock

    £5.99

  • How Proust Can Change Your Life

    Pan Macmillan How Proust Can Change Your Life

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisWith an introduction by comedian and novelist David BaddielA novel in seven volumes, Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time is considered a major literary work of the twentieth century. And even more crucially, one that you should have read by now. However, as one of its most distinguishing features is its staggering length, many of us feel intimidated and perhaps, even, fatigued at the thought of diving in. Alain de Botton’s hilarious and unexpected Proustian manual, is then, the perfect antidote to this problem.In How Proust Can Change Your Life, de Botton masterfully distils what Proust says about friendship, reading, being alive and taking your time, and mixes it with his own, no less nourishing commentary. As de Botton rereads Proust for our collective benefit, we see the continued relevance of his work and the rich and varied insights he can offer us, from how to reinvigorate your relationship to being a good host. This is Proust as you’ve never seen him before. He may even change your life.Trade ReviewIt contains more human interest and play of fancy than most fiction . . . de Botton, in emphasizing Proust's healing, advisory aspects, does us the service of rereading him on our behalf, providing of that vast sacred lake a sweet and lucid distillation -- John Updike * New Yorker *

    15 in stock

    £10.44

  • Italian Dictionary Complete and Unabridged

    HarperCollins Publishers Italian Dictionary Complete and Unabridged

    4 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe home of trusted Italian dictionaries for everyday language learning.A large-format English to Italian and Italian to English bilingual dictionary for serious students of Italian with up-to-date vocabulary and breadth of coverage. This is the perfect dictionary for everyone using Italian for their language studies.With more than 255,000 words, meanings and phrases and 230,000 translations.Includes the latest vocabulary from a wide range of fields, with special features about life and culture in ItalyA clear, easy-to-read layout with special treatment of complex words ensures the user finds the right translation quickly and easilyThe extensive Language in Use supplement gives real-life examples of how Italian is used daily in a variety of contexts, including letters, emails and text messagesBusiness and Finance supplement covers essential vocabulary for everyday business use

    4 in stock

    £42.50

  • Thebaid

    Cornell University Press Thebaid

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe clarity of Joyce's translation highlights the poem's superb versification, sophisticated use of intertextuality, and bold formal experimentation and innovation. A substantial introduction and annotations make this epic accessible to students.Trade Review"Jane Wilson Joyce's translation of the Thebaid is a stunning achievement. The long lines of loosely flowing rhythms represent Statius' manner more accurately and vividly (and in more accomplished verse) than any translation of the poem I have seen. The result is a sophisticated and very challenging poem, striking and even austere in some ways, hardly modern yet less old fashioned than other fashioned, and in its way quite new." -- William Levitan, Grand Valley State University"Our generation has developed such an appetite for violence and horror that it is more than ready to appreciate Statius' Thebaid. Thanks to Jane Wilson Joyce, a poet in her own right, we now have a rich and vivid translation that matches the pace and urgency of Statius' narrative: his gods are vindictive, his demons gruesome, his champions brutal, while brave and innocent young warriors meet their deaths and loving women grieve for them. Statius' imaginative power and Joyce's language set before us in passionate variety scenes of human hatred and loyalty, arrogance and exaltation, supernatural omens, ghosts and furies, and a fratricidal climax that drives the gods from the battlefield in sheer disgust. How lucky for readers that Jane Wilson Joyce is also a scholar! She has doubled the value of her work by supplying everything the reader needs to follow the heroic tale, a substantial introduction on Statius' life and times, synopses to open each book, footnotes, and a lively critical commentary." -- Elaine Fantham, Giger Professor of Latin Emerita, Princeton University"The scholar-poet Jane Wilson Joyce offers a new translation of Statius' Thebaid that is a major contribution to the field. Very readable, well researched, and insightful, it should prove useful and stimulating to students, casual readers, and serious scholars (both Statians and the uninitiated). It addresses three important needs. It provides the first English commentary on the epic in its entirety. It is the first verse translation in English using a six-beat line. And it it's the first English translation with a decent chance of convincing readers that Statius the epic poet can be enjoyable, that his is indeed a vox iuncunda.... This vigorous, engaging translation, copious supporting material, and confident interpretive voice... rewards casual reading or more intense study. An impressive achievement that will be hard to match, it deserves to become the new standard." -- Kyle G. Gervais, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

    5 in stock

    £23.79

  • The Irresistible Fairy Tale

    Princeton University Press The Irresistible Fairy Tale

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisIf there is one genre that has captured the imagination of people in all walks of life throughout the world, it is the fairy tale. This book presents a provocative theory about why fairy tales were created and retold - and why they became such an indelible and infinitely adaptable part of cultures around the world.Trade ReviewCo-Winner of the 2012 Wayland D. Hand Prize, History and Folklore Section of the American Folklore Society One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2012 "Zipes is a powerful defender of folklore and succeeds in exploring its role in cultural history as well as its influence today."--Maria Taylor, Times Literary Supplement "Zipes is the undisputed 'king' of the literary criticism of fairy tales kingdom... A rich, persuasive, magical brew, graced by seven illustrations."--Choice "Zipes is considered one of the true experts on fairy tales. He brings considerable erudition to the book which covers some broad issues in fairy-tale analysis, such as how they spread ... and the role of women collectors and narrators."--Nidhi Mathur, Organiser "In showing how and why fairy tales have become a core part of our central being, Zipes reveals his extensive scholarship in the field, as well as his skill in expounding profoundly about his key interests and concerns relating to the fairy tale genre. This scholarly masterpiece, which has emerged from decades of thought on the subject, deserves a place in all literary collections, as well as consideration by all those concerned with this particular genre."--Lois Henderson, Book Pleasures "Zipes is one of a handful of today's true experts on the fairy tale. Needless to say, he brings considerable erudition to this book, which covers some broad issues in fairy tale analysis such as how they spread (he takes his lead from Richard Dawkins's theory of cultural memes) and the role of women collectors and narrators... General readers with an interest in fairy tales will definitely enjoy what Zipes has to say."--David Azzolina, Library Journal "From Sumerian fables to Catherine Breillat's cinematic interpretations, fairy tales have traveled far. Professor Jack Zipes follows the evolution of a genre of folklore that serves to discretely communicate knowledge and experience. Reaching beyond our childhood memories of Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, he explores the characters and tales that have thrived over the centuries, detailing especially French and Russian tales that have endured, albeit sometimes with a change of focus... This is not a book for the beach but the fruits of a study researched over several decades and offered especially to an academic readership. As such, the considerable chapter notes, bibliography, provocative illustrations, and index are all fitting."--Jane Manaster, Sacramento Book Review "Zipes traces the origin of storytelling back to a primal past... The reason they survive to this day, Zipes suggests, is because the classic fairy tales--such as Snow White, Cinderella, and Rapunzel, which all have analogues in cultures throughout the world--are perfect examples of 'memetic' engineering."--Adam Kirsch, Prospect "Zipes spends much of The Irresistible Fairy Tale pointing out the hidden gems in the fairy tale's history and present--the ignored fabulists and movements that better embodied the revolutionary spirit of fable-telling."--Max Ross, Open Letters Monthly "The Irresistible Fairy Tale establishes a greater link with the social and natural sciences to explain the appeal of the fairytale. Zipes puts fairytales centre stage in Western culture, in a series of chapters that focus on lesser-known stories and authors. Zipes shows how fairytales mutate to ensure that the stories remain relevant to contemporary audiences, such as the feminist overturning of the traditional patriarchal fairytales in new interpretations of stories such as Little Red Riding Hood. The Irresistible Fairy Tale will appeal to both the academic and the general reader."--Colin Steele, Canberra Times "The Irresistible Fairy Tale strikes gold in giving due attention to a number of neglected female storytellers and collectors. In truth, Zipes could have written an entire book on Laura Gonzenbach, Bozena Nemcova, Nannette Levesque, and Rachel Busk."--Belinda Webb, Review 31 "Zipes is, of course, the undisputed dean of fairy tale studies in the US... In The Irresistible Fairy Tale, Zipes draws on and extends is prior work. He both celebrates the fairy tale as a subversive form and analyzes it as a nearly living creature, evolving from a dim past into the multifarious forms it takes today."--Elisabeth Rose Gruner, Children's Literature "The Irresistible Fairy Tale follows the theoretical trajectory established in [Zipes's] earlier works with a broad range of well-researched, lucidly-written chapters that are supported by informative notes, a bibliography divided into literary and critical works, and a detailed index. Each chapter can stand alone, but read together they offer compelling testimony to Zipes's sheer range of expertise and analytical insight."--Kirsten Mollegaard, Folklore "Zipes is as always impressively erudite but wears his knowledge like a linen suit."--Richard Marshall, 3AM Magazine "The Irresistible Fairy Tale is another informative contribution from this prolific and influential scholar."--Martha P. Hixon, Children's Literature Association Quarterly "[This book presents] a broad range of well-researched, lucidly-written chapters that are supported by informative notes, a bibliography divided into literary and critical works, and detailed index. Each chapter can stand alone, but read together they offer compelling testimony to Zipes's sheer range of expertise and analytical insight."--Kirsten Mollegaard, Folklore "Zipes gives a masterful and hopeful description of the genre and its inclinations."--Jill Terry Rudy, Marvels & TalesTable of ContentsList of Illustrations ix Preface xi Acknowledgments xvii Chapter 1: The Cultural Evolution of Storytelling and Fairy Tales: Human Communication and Memetics 1 Chapter 2: The Meaning of Fairy Tale within the Evolution of Culture 21 Chapter 3: Remaking "Bluebeard," or Good-bye to Perrault 41 Chapter 4: Witch as Fairy/Fairy as Witch: Unfathomable Baba Yagas 55 Chapter 5: The Tales of Innocent Persecuted Heroines and Their Neglected Female Storytellers and Collectors 80 Chapter 6: Giuseppe Pitre and the Great Collectors of Folk Tales in the Nineteenth Century 109 Chapter 7: Fairy-Tale Collisions, or the Explosion of a Genre 135 Appendix A: Sensationalist Scholarship: A "New" History of Fairy Tales 157 Appendix B: Reductionist Scholarship: A "New" Definition of the Fairy Tale 175 Notes 191 Bibliography 209 Index 227

    15 in stock

    £18.00

  • The Plum in the Golden Vase or Chin Ping Mei

    Princeton University Press The Plum in the Golden Vase or Chin Ping Mei

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisProvides a complete and annotated translation of the famous "Chin P'ing Mei", an anonymous sixteenth-century Chinese novel that focuses on the domestic life of Hsi-men Ch'ing, a corrupt, upwardly mobile merchant in a provincial town, who maintains a harem of six wives and concubines.Trade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 1994 "[A] book of manners for the debauched. Its readers in the late Ming period likely hid it under their bedcovers."--Amy Tan, New York Times Book Review "[I]t is time to remind ourselves that The Plum in the Golden Vase is not just about sex, whether the numerous descriptions of sexual acts throughout the novel be viewed as titillating, harshly realistic, or, in Mr. Roy's words, intended 'to express in the most powerful metaphor available to him the author's contempt for the sort of persons who indulge in them.' The novel is a sprawling panorama of life and times in urban China, allegedly set safely in the Sung dynasty, but transparently contemporary to the author's late sixteenth-century world, as scores of internal references demonstrate. The eight hundred or so men, women, and children who appear in the book cover a breath-taking variety of human types, and encompass pretty much every imaginable mood and genre--from sadism to tenderness, from light humor to philosophical musings, from acute social commentary to outrageous satire."--Jonathan Spence, New York Review of Books "David Tod Roy enters with zest into the spirit and the letter of the original, quite surpassing ... other earlier versions."--Paul St. John Mackintosh, Literary Review "Reading Roy's translation is a remarkable experience."--Robert Chatain, Chicago Tribune Review of Books "What Roy has already accomplished [in this volume] is enough to establish his translation as definitive... A tremendous achievement."--Charles Horner, CommentaryTable of Contents*Frontmatter, pg. i*Contents, pg. vii*List of Illustrations, pg. xi*Acknowledgments, pg. xiii*Introduction, pg. xvii*Cast of Characters, pg. xlix*Preface to the Chin P'ing Mei tz'u-hua, pg. 1*Preface to the Chin P'ing Mei, pg. 6*Colophon, pg. 7*Four Lyrics to the Tune "Burning Incense", pg. 8*Lyrics on the Four Vices to the Tune "Partridge Sky", pg. 10*CHAPTER 1. Wu Sung Fights a Tiger on Ching-yang Ridge; P'an Chin-lien Disdains Her Mate and Plays the Coquette, pg. 12*CHAPTER 2. Beneath the Blind Hsi-men Ch'ing Meets Chin-lien; Inspired by Greed Dame Wang Speaks of Romance, pg. 43*CHAPTER 3. Dame Wang Proposes a Ten-part Plan for "Garnering the Glow" Hsi-men Ch'ing Flirts with Chin-lien in the Teahouse, pg. 62*CHAPTER 4. The Hussy Commits Adultery behind Wu the Elder's Back; Yun-ko in His Anger Raises a Rumpus in the Teashop, pg. 82*CHAPTER 5. Yun-ko Lends a Hand by Cursing Dame Wang; The Hussy Administers Poison to Wu the Elder, pg. 96*CHAPTER 6. Hsi-men Ch'ing Suborns Ho the Ninth; Dame Wang Fetches Wine and Encounters a Downpour, pg. 111*CHAPTER 7. Auntie Hsueh Proposes a Match with Meng Yu-lou; Aunt Yang Angrily Curses Chang the Fourth, pg. 125*CHAPTER 8. All Night Long P'an Chin-lien Yearns for Hsi-men Ch'ing; During the Tablet-burning Monks Overhear Sounds of Venery, pg. 147*CHAPTER 9. Hsi-men Ch'ing Conspires to Marry P'an Chin-lien; Captain Wu Mistakenly Assaults Li Wai-ch'uan, pg. 170*CHAPTER 10. Wu the Second Is Condemned to Exile in Meng-chou; Hsi-men and His Harem Revel in the Hibiscus Pavilion, pg. 188*CHAPTER 11. P'an Chin-lien Instigates the Beating of Sun Hsueh-o Hsi-men Ch'ing Decides to Deflower Li Kuei-chieh, pg. 205*CHAPTER 12. P'an Chin-lien Suffers Ignominy for Adultery with a Servant; Stargazer Liu Purveys Black Magic in Pursuit of Gain, pg. 224*CHAPTER 13. Li P'ing-erh Makes a Secret Tryst over the Garden Wall; The Maid Ying-ch'un Peeks through a Crack and Gets an Eyeful, pg. 253*CHAPTER 14. Hua Tzu-hsu Succumbs to Chagrin and Loses His Life; Li P'ing-erh Invites Seduction and Attends a Party, pg. 274*CHAPTER 15. Beauties Enjoy the Sights in the Lantern-viewing Belvedere; Hangers-on Abet Debauchery in the Verdant Spring Bordello, pg. 298*CHAPTER 16. Hsi-men Ch'ing Is Inspired by Greed to Contemplate Matrimony; Ying Po-chueh Steals a March in Anticipation of the Ceremony, pg. 316*CHAPTER 17. Censor Yu-wen Impeaches Commander Yang; Li P'ing-erh Takes Chiang Chu-shan as Mate, pg. 337*CHAPTER 18. Lai-pao Takes Care of Things in the Eastern Capital; Ch'en Ching-chi Supervises the Work in the Flower Garden, pg. 356*CHAPTER 19. Snake-in-the-grass Shakes Down Chiang Chu-shan; Li P'ing-erh's Feelings Touch Hsi-men Ch'ing, pg. 376*CHAPTER 20. Meng Yu-lou High-mindedly Intercedes with Wu Yueh-niang; Hsi-men Ch'ing Wreaks Havoc in the Verdant Spring Bordello, pg. 401*APPENDIX I. Translator's Commentary on the Prologue, pg. 429*APPENDIX II. Translations of Supplementary Material, pg. 437*NOTES, pg. 449*BIBLIOGRAPHY, pg. 543*INDEX, pg. 573

    5 in stock

    £31.50

  • Agrip Af Noregskonungasqgum

    Viking Society for Northern Research Agrip Af Noregskonungasqgum

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £11.40

  • Paintings in Proust A Visual Companion to In

    Thames & Hudson Ltd Paintings in Proust A Visual Companion to In

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisEric Karpeles's lavishly illustrated and comprehensive guide offers a feast for the eyes as it celebrates the close relationship between the visual and literary arts in Proust's masterpiece. Karpeles has identified and located all of the paintings to which Proust makes exact reference. Where only a painter's name is mentioned to indicate a certain mood or appearance, he has chosen a representative work to illustrate the impression that Proust sought to evoke. Botticelli's angels, Manet's courtesans, Mantegna's warriors and Carpaccio's saints stand among Monet's water lilies and Piranesi's engravings of Rome, while Karpeles's insightful essay and lucid contextual commentary explain their significance to Proust. The book closes with extensive notes and a comprehensive index of all painters and paintings mentioned in the novel. With over 200 beautifully reproduced paintings, drawings and engravings, and accompanying texts drawn from the Moncrieff/Kilmartin/Enright translation of In Search of Lost Time, this book is an essential addition to the libraries of Proustians worldwide and a handsome volume in its own right.Trade Review'Will thrill any Proust lover' - Financial Times'Will undoubtedly be greeted with the literary equivalent of a hosanna' - The New York Times'Intelligent and passionate … a window into Proust’s sharp, eccentric wit' - The Irish Times'Indispensable to the [Proust] addict, but also enticing for the casual browser' - ObserverTable of ContentsIntroduction • Volume I: Swann’s Way • Volume II: Within a Budding Grove • Volume III: The Guermantes Way • Volume IV: Sodom and Gomorrah • Volume V: The Captive • Volume VI: The Fugitive • Volume VII: Time Regained • Notes • Index of Painters and Paintings

    15 in stock

    £17.00

  • Walden and Civil Disobedience

    Penguin Publishing Group Walden and Civil Disobedience

    5 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    5 in stock

    £6.59

  • The Odyssey

    HarperCollins Publishers The Odyssey

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.Alas that mortalsShould blame the gods! From us, they say,All evils come. Yet they themselvesIt is who through defiant deedsBring sorrow on them-far more sorrowThan fate would have them bear.'Attributed to the blind Greek poet, Homer, The Odyssey is an epic tale about cunning and strength of mind. It takes its starting point ten years after the fall of the city of Troy and follows its Greek warrior hero Odysseus as he tries to journey to his home of Ithaca in northwest Greece after the Greek victory over the Trojans.On his travels, Odysseus comes across surreal islands and foreign lands where he is in turn challenged and supported by those that he meets on his travels as he attempts to find his way back home in order to vanquish those who threaten his estate. In turn, his son Telemachus has to grow up quickly as he attempts to find his father and protect his mother from her suitors.Dealing with the univer

    15 in stock

    £5.62

  • Dickens C Tale of Two Cities

    HarperCollins Publishers Dickens C Tale of Two Cities

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its range of best-loved, essential classics.''It was the best of times, it was the worst of times''Set in Paris and London against the backdrop of the French Revolution, A Tale of Two Cities tells the story of Lucie Manette and her father Alexandre, held captive in Paris's notorious Bastille prison for eighteen years. When Alexandre is finally released, the Manettes find themselves caught up in the lives of a French aristocrat and an English lawyer who compete for the love of Lucie. The ensuing tale of violence and revenge depicts the plight of the peasantry, the brutality of the early revolutionaries, and the menacing shadow of the guillotine.Serialised in Dickens's own literary periodical in 1859, A Tale of Two Cities is one of the best-known works of literature set during the French Revolution.

    3 in stock

    £7.59

  • Selected Poems Tennyson

    Penguin Books Ltd Selected Poems Tennyson

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisContains poems which epitomize the Victorian age.Trade Review"[Tennyson] had the finest ear of any English poet since Milton." -T. S. Eliot

    10 in stock

    £9.49

  • Speak Memory

    Penguin Books Ltd Speak Memory

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis''Speak, memory'', said Vladimir Nabokov. And immediately there came flooding back to him a host of enchanting recollections - of his comfortable childhood and adolescence, of his rich, liberal-minded father, his beautiful mother, an army of relations and family hangers-on and of grand old houses in St Petersburg and the surrounding countryside in pre-Revolutionary Russia. Young love, butterflies, tutors and a multitude of other themes thread together to weave an autobiography, which is itself a work of art.

    10 in stock

    £9.49

  • One Hundred Poets One Poem Each

    Penguin Books Ltd One Hundred Poets One Poem Each

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisA new edition of the most widely known and popular collection of Japanese poetry.The best-loved and most widely read of all Japanese poetry collections, the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu contains 100 short poems on nature, the seasons, travel, and, above all, love. Dating back to the seventh century, these elegant, precisely observed waka poems (the precursor of haiku) express deep emotion through visual images based on a penetrating observation of the natural world. Peter MacMillan''s new translation of his prize-winning original conveys even more effectively the beauty and subtlety of this magical collection.Translated with an introduction and commentary by Peter MacMillan.Trade ReviewBy far the best translation to date -- Donald KeeneFor more than seven centuries, these poems have resonated with countless readers ... [Peter Macmillan's] excellent new translation of these poems makes clear why they have mattered so much for so long ... [revealing] the vivid emotions that have kept the heart of the collection beating all this time * TIME *

    7 in stock

    £10.44

  • Rhymes Reason

    Yale University Press Rhymes Reason

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisSurveys the schemes, patterns and forms of English verse, and illustrates each variation with an original and witty self-descriptive example. In this fourth edition, the authors offer a personal take on why the book has played such an important role in the education of young poets and student scholars.Trade ReviewThe first edition of Rhyme’s Reason was awarded the Modern Language Association’s Mina P. Shaughnessy Medal for an outstanding research publication in the field of teaching English language and literature"How lucky the young poet who discovers this wisest and most lighthearted of manuals."—James Merrill"[Hollander] put everything he knew about the structures of poetry—those fabled magic tricks—into a sort of guidebook for those starting out on the trail up Mount Parnassus, as well as for those who may already know the path but would take unusual delight in Hollander’s marvelously ingenious blazes along the way. . . . There are astonishments on every page."—from the Foreword by J. D. McClatchy"This book's wit and inventive spirit, its self-describing embodiments of form, now offer the beginning poet a happy chance to discover the technician in himself."—from the Afterword by Richard Wilbur"This virtuoso work from a master, a book which is accurate and useful without ever ceasing to be funny."—Paul Fussell"What the E. B. White-William Strunk The Elements of Style is to the writing of prose, Rhyme’s Reason could very easily become to the writing of verse . . . . Marvelously comprehensive, clarifying and useful [and] a delight to read."—John Reardon, Los Angeles Times Review of Books

    1 in stock

    £12.80

  • The Lifted Veil and Brother Jacob

    Oxford University Press The Lifted Veil and Brother Jacob

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Lifted Veil (1859) is now one of the most widely read and critically discussed of Eliot's works.

    2 in stock

    £7.59

  • The Doctors Wife

    Oxford University Press The Doctors Wife

    4 in stock

    Book Synopsis`Isabel Gilbert was not a woman of the world. She had read novels while other people perused the Sunday papers...she believed in a phantasmal world created out of the pages of poets and romancers.'' The Doctor''s Wife is Mary Elizabeth Braddon''s rewriting of Flaubert''s Madame Bovary in which she explores her heroine''s sense of entrapment and alienation in middle-class provincial life married to a good natured but bovine husband who seems incapable of understanding his wife''s imaginative life and feelings. A woman with a secret, adultery, death and the spectacle of female recrimination and suffering are the elements which combine to make The Doctor''s Wife a classic women''s sensation novel. Yet, The Doctor''s Wife is also a self-consciously literary novel, in which Braddon attempts to transcend the sensation genre. This is the only edition of a fascinating and engrossing work, and reproduces uncut the first three-volume edition of 1864. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford

    4 in stock

    £10.44

  • The Uses of Enchantment

    Penguin Books Ltd The Uses of Enchantment

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisBruno Bettelheim was Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago from 1944 to 1973. He died in 1990.

    3 in stock

    £10.44

  • The Tragedy of King Richard III

    Oxford University Press The Tragedy of King Richard III

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisRichard III is one of Shakespeare''s most popular plays on the stage and has been adapted successfully for film. This new and innovative edition recognizes the play''s pre-eminence as a performance work: a perspective that informs every aspect of the editing. Challenging traditional practice, the text is based on the 1597 Quarto which, it is argued, brings us closest to the play as it would have been staged in Shakespeare''s theatre. The introduction, which is illustrated, explores the long performance history from Shakespeare''s time to the present. Its critical engagement with the play responds to recent historicist and gender-based approaches. The commentary gives detailed explication of matters of language, staging, text, and historical and cultural contexts, providing coverage that is both carefully balanced and alert to nuance of meaning. Documentation of the extensive textual variants is organized for maximum clarity: the readings of the Folio and the Quarto are presented in separate banks, and more specialist information is given at the back of the book. Appendices also include selected passages from the main source and a special index of actors and other theatrical personnel. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade ReviewThis is far and away the finest critical edition of the play available * Eric Rasmussen, Shakespeare Survey *Table of ContentsLIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS; INTRODUCTION; EDITORIAL PROCEDURES; THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD III; APPENDICES; INDEX

    1 in stock

    £7.59

  • Louise de la Vallière

    Oxford University Press Louise de la Vallière

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisLouise de la Balliere is the middle section of The Vicomte de Bragelonne or, Ten Years After. Against a tender love story, Dumas continues the suspense which began with The Vicomte de Bragelonne and will end with The Man in the Iron Mask. It is early summer, 1661, and the royal court of France is in turmoil. Can it be true that the King is in love with the Duchess d''Orleans? Or has his eye been caught by the sweet and gentle Louise de la Valliere? No one is more anxious to know the answer than Raoul, son of Athos, who loves Louise more than life itself. Behind the scenes, dark intrigues are afoot. Louis XIV is intent on making himself absolute master of France. Imminent crisis shakes the now aging Musketeers and d''Artagnan out of their complacent retirement, but is the cause just? This new edition of the classic English translation of 1857 is richly annotated and sets Dumas''s invigorating tale in its historical and cultural context. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Reviewone of the very best of the series, mixing amorous and political intrigue with an élan peculiar to Dumas ... this quasi-historical series remains remarkably readable * The Irish Times (Dublin) *

    2 in stock

    £9.49

  • The Vicar of Wakefield

    Oxford University Press The Vicar of Wakefield

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis''He loved all mankind; for fortune prevented him from knowing there were rascals.''Oliver Goldsmith''s hugely successful novel of 1766 remained for generations one of the most highly regarded and beloved works of eighteenth-century fiction. It depicts the fall and rise of the Primrose family, presided over by the benevolent vicar, the narrator of a fairy-tale plot of impersonation and deception, the abduction of a beautiful heroine and the machinations of an aristocratic villain. By turns comic and sentimental, the novel''s popularity owes much to its recognizable depiction of domestic life and loving family relationships.Regarded by some as a straightforward and well-intentioned novel of sentiment, and by others as a satire on the very literary conventions and morality it seems to embody, The Vicar of Wakefield contains, in the figure of the vicar himself, one of the most harmlessly simply and unsophisticated yet also ironically complex narrators ever to appear in English fiction. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

    1 in stock

    £8.99

  • Twelve Angry Men

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Twelve Angry Men

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Methuen Drama Student Edition of Twelve Angry Men is the first critical edition of Reginald Rose's play, providing the play text alongside commentary and notes geared towards student readers.In New York, 1954, a man is dead and the life of another is at stake. A ''guilty'' verdict seems a foregone conclusion, but one member of the jury has the will to probe more deeply into the evidence and the courage to confront the ignorance and prejudice of some of his fellow jurors. The conflict that follows is fierce and passionate, cutting straight to the heart of the issues of civil liberties and social justice. Ideal for the student reader, the accompanying pedagogical notes include elements such as an author chronology; plot summary; suggested further reading; explanatory endnotes; and questions for further study. The introduction discusses in detail the play''s origins as a 1954 American television play, Rose''s re-working of the piece for the stage, and Lumet''s 1957 film versiTrade ReviewIt's not hard to recognise contemporary universal parallels in Rose's play. . . . At the play's heart is a noble belief that truth, justice and the American way are still ideals to aspire to, however much they may sometimes be corrupted. * Herald *Reginald Rose's classic mid-20th-century American drama . . . built around the relentlessly powerful story of a lone juror in a New York murder case * Scotsman *Table of ContentsCHRONOLOGY PLOT COMMENTARY The television play (1954) The stage version (1955) The film version (1957) Genre Characters Social and political context Later productions and critical reception FURTHER READING PLAY TEXT NOTES QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY

    15 in stock

    £10.99

  • Literary Theory

    John Wiley and Sons Ltd Literary Theory

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisA quarter of a century on from its original publication, Literary Theory: An Introduction still conjures the subversion, excitement and exoticism that characterized theory through the 1960s and 70s, when it posed an unprecedented challenge to the literary establishment. Eagleton has added a new preface to this anniversary edition to address more recent developments in literary studies, including what he describes as the growth of a kind of anti-theory, and the idea that literary theory has been institutionalized. Insightful and enlightening, Literary Theory: An Introduction remains the essential guide to the field. 25th Anniversary Edition of Terry Eagleton's classic introduction to literary theory First published in 1983, and revised in 1996 to include material on developments in feminist and cultural theory Has served as an inspiration to generations of students and teachers Trade Review"Before Literary Theory, there had been no textbooks for English. There had been guides to particular authors, and even periods, but no single one book that could claim to be "essential reading".... Eagleton's book—which clearly understands the discipline and institutions of English—offered this." (Times Literary Supplement, April 2009) "This book shaped the reception of theory in Britain for a generation." (Times Higher Education Supplement) Praise for the First Edition of Literary Theory “Literary Theory has the kind of racy readability that one associates more often with English critics who have set their faces resolutely against theory ... It's not just a brilliant polemical essay, it's also a remarkable feat of condensation, explication, and synthesis ... Stimulating and entertaining.” (Sunday Times) “This concise and lucid volume offers a satisfying survey of all the major theories, from structuralism in the 1960s to deconstruction today, that have made academic criticism both intriguing and off-putting to the outsider.” (New York Times Book Review) “A polemical, amusing and very informative introduction ... indispensable.” (Jonathan Culler) "The best handbook to those arcane ics and isms, both for academy members and for any civilians who, having heard the distant roar of professorial cannons, might wonder what the skirmishing is about." (Voice Literary Supplement) Table of ContentsPreface to the Anniversary Edition. Preface to the Second Edition. Preface to the First Edition. Introduction: What is Literature?. 1. The Rise of English. 2. Phenomenology, Hermeneutics, Reception Theory. 3. Structuralism and Semiotics. 4. Post-Structuralism. 5. Psychoanalysis. Conclusion: Political Criticism. Afterword. Notes. Bibliography. Index

    15 in stock

    £18.00

  • Hamlet SparkNotes Literature Guide

    Spark Hamlet SparkNotes Literature Guide

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhen an essay is due and dreaded exams loom, this title offers students what they need to succeed. It provides chapter-by-chapter analysis, explanations of key themes, motifs, and symbols, a review quiz and essay topics. It is suitable for late-night studying and paper writing.

    15 in stock

    £5.99

  • Wuthering Heights everything you need to catch up

    Pearson Education Wuthering Heights everything you need to catch up

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisYork Notes Advanced offer a fresh and accessible approach to English Literature. This market-leading series has been completely updated to meet the needs of today's A-level and undergraduate students. Written by established literature experts, York Notes Advanced intorduce students to more sophisticated analysis, a range of critical perspectives and wider contexts.Table of Contents Part 1: Introduction Part 2: The text Part 3: Critical approachs Part 4: Critical history Part 5: Background Further Reading Literacy Terms

    3 in stock

    £7.99

  • Fragments Volume II

    Harvard University Press Fragments Volume II

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisEuripides (c. 485–406 BCE) has been prized in every age for his emotional and intellectual drama. Eighteen of his ninety or so plays survive complete, including Medea, Hippolytus, and Bacchae, one of the great masterpieces of the tragic genre. Fragments of his lost plays also survive.Trade ReviewEuripides keeps us on the edge of our seats, whipping up pity, fear, surprise and shock in large doses...The splendid new two-volume Loeb edition of the fragments of Euripides, of which the second volume has just appeared, is a comforting reminder that we actually have fairly substantial knowledge of many Euripidean "lost" plays as well. -- Emily Wilson * Times Literary Supplement *

    15 in stock

    £23.70

  • How to Read Poetry Like a Professor

    HarperCollins Publishers Inc How to Read Poetry Like a Professor

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisTrade Review“[An] accessible guide… [Foster’s] discussion of symbolism is particularly effective and may help readers learn to actually enjoy the experience of interpreting a poem… Students struggling to understand poetry, or even English instructors struggling to teach it, could benefit immensely from Foster’s guidance.” — Publishers Weekly “Foster’s enthusiasm is infectious…he has clearly enjoyed teaching and sharing his love of literature with his students during his long career. How to Read Poetry Like a Professor is not unlike that freshman English class that everyone vies to enroll in—entertaining and informative without being intimidating. The curriculum is on point, and in the end, you’ll have the tools to truly ‘get’ poetry, with all its manifest themes and variations.” — BookPage

    2 in stock

    £10.44

  • The History of the Peloponnesian War Classics

    Penguin Books Ltd The History of the Peloponnesian War Classics

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisWritten four hundred years before the birth of Christ, this detailed contemporary account of the struggle between Athens and Sparta stands an excellent chance of fulfilling the author's ambitious claim that the work was done to last forever. The conflicts between the two empires over shipping, trade, and colonial expansion came to a head in 431 b.c. in Northern Greece, and the entire Greek world was plunged into 27 years of war. Thucydides applied a passion for accuracy and a contempt for myth and romance in compiling this exhaustively factual record of the disastrous conflict that eventually ended the Athenian empire.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and nTable of ContentsTranslated by Rex Warner with an Introduction and Notes by M. I. FinleyIntroductionTranslator's NoteBook IIntroductionThe Dispute over EpidamnusThe Dispute over CorcyraThe Dispute over PotidaeaThe Debate at Sparta and Declaration of WarThe PentecontaetiaThe Allied Congress at SpartaThe Stories of Pausanias and ThemistoclesThe Spartan Ultimatum and Pericles' ReplyBook IIOutbreak of WarThe First Year of the WarPericles' Funeral OrationThe PlagueThe Policy of PericlesThe Fall of PotidaeaThe Siege of PlataeaVictories of PhormioThrace and MacedoniaBook IIIRevolt of MytileneThe Mytilenian DebateThe End of PlataeaCivil War in CorcyraOperations in Sicily and GreeceEnd of Sixth Year of WarBook IVAthenian Success at PylosFinal Victory at PylosFurther Athenian SuccessesPeace in SicilyFighting at MegaraBrasidas in ThraceAthenian Defeat at DeliumBrasidas Captures AmphipolisArmistice between Athens and SpartaEnd of Ninth Year of WarBook VBattle of AmphipolisPeace of NiciasNegotiations with ArgosAlliance between Athens and ArgosCampaigns in the PeloponneseBattle of MantineaThe Melian DialogueBook VISicilian AntiquitiesLaunching of the Sicilian ExpeditionThe Debate at SyracuseThe Athenians Arrive in SicilyThe Story of Harmodius and AristogitonRecall of AlcibiadesAthenian Victory before SyracuseThe Debate at CamarinaAlcibiades in SpartaMore Athenian Successes at SyracuseBook VIIGylippus Arrives in SyracuseLetter of NiciasFortification of DeceleaAthenian Defeat in the Great HarbourAthenian Defeat at EpipolaeSyracusan Victory at SeaDestruction of the Athenian ExpeditionBook VIIIAlarm at AthensBeginning of Persian InterventionThe Oligarchic CoupAthenian Victory at CynossemaAppendicesBibliographyMapsIndex

    7 in stock

    £12.34

  • Faust Part I

    Penguin Books Ltd Faust Part I

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisTrade Review" One of those great works of literature into which a writer has been able to combine his ranging preoccupations and understanding as he worked." -A. S. Byatt, from the Preface

    1 in stock

    £9.49

  • Greek Tragedy Penguin Classics

    Penguin Books Ltd Greek Tragedy Penguin Classics

    4 in stock

    Book SynopsisThree masterpieces of classical tragedy Containing Aeschylus's Agamemnon, Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, and Euripides' Medea, this important new selection brings the best works of the great tragedians together in one perfect introductory volume. This volume also includes extracts from Aristophanes' comedy The Frogs and a selection from Aristotle's Poetics.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.Table of ContentsGreek TragedyChronological TableIntroductionFurther ReadingA Note on the TextsPreface to AgamemnonAgamemnon by AeschylusPreface to Oedipus RexOedipus Rex by SophoclesPreface to MedeaMedea by EuripidesPreface to FrogsExtracts from Frogs by AristophanesPreface to PoeticsExtracts from Poetics by AristotleNotesGenealogical TablesMap of Ancient Greece

    4 in stock

    £10.44

  • Index Book 13 The History of Middleearth

    HarperCollins Publishers Index Book 13 The History of Middleearth

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisComplete integrated indices of History of Middle-earth volumes to complement new series.For the first time every index from each of the twelve volumes of The History Of Middle-earth has been published together in a single volume to create a supreme index charting the writing of Tolkien's masterpieces The Lord of The Rings and The Silmarillion.This stunning work of reference complements the fascinating History of Middle-earth series, now repackaged to complement the distinctive and classic style of the black cover' A-format paperbacks of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales.

    2 in stock

    £10.44

  • Of Human Freedom

    Penguin Books Ltd Of Human Freedom

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn this personal and practical guide to moral self-improvement and living a good life, the second-century philosopher Epictetus tackles questions of freedom and imprisonment, stubbornness and fear, family, friendship and love, and leaves an intriguing document of daily life in the classical world.GREAT IDEAS. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.

    15 in stock

    £7.59

  • Moonstone The

    HarperCollins Publishers Moonstone The

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its range of best-loved, essential classics.The horrid mystery hanging over us in this house gets into my head like liquor, and makes me wild.'Centred around a glorious yellow diamond that carries with it a menacing history, The Moonstone tells the story of Rachel Verinder, who inherits the stone on her eighteenth birthday. That very evening, the diamond is stolen and there begins an epic enquiry into hunting down the thief. At the same time, three Indian men, Brahmin guardians of the diamond are attempting to reclaim the stone in order to return it to their sacred Hindu Idol.Told from the perspective of 11different characters, Wilkie Collins' tale of mystery and suspicion was considered the first modern English detective novel at its time of publication.

    2 in stock

    £6.01

  • The Karamazov Brothers

    Oxford University Press The Karamazov Brothers

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisDostoevsky''s last and greatest novel, The Karamazov Brothers (1880) is both a brilliantly told crime story and a passionate philosophical debate. The dissolute landowner Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov is murdered; his sons - the atheist intellectual Ivan, the hot-blooded Dmitry, and the saintly novice Alyosha - are all at some level involved.Bound up with this intense family drama is Dostoevsky''s exploration of many deeply felt ideas about the existence of God, the question of human freedom, the collective nature of guilt, the disatrous consequences of rationalism. The novel is also richly comic: the Russian Orthodox Church, the legal system, and even the authors most cherished causes and beliefs are presented with a note of irreverence, so that orthodoxy, and radicalism, sanity and madness, love and hatred, right and wrong are no longer mutually exclusive. Rebecca West considered it the allegory for the world''s maturity, but with children to the fore. This new translation does full justice to Doestoevsky''s genius, particularly in the use of the spoken word, which ranges over every mode of human expression. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

    15 in stock

    £9.49

  • Mansfield Park

    Oxford University Press Mansfield Park

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisFanny Price is taken to live at Mansfield Park, the home of her wealthy uncle. She gradually falls in love with her cousin Edmund, but when the dazzling and sophisticated Crawfords arrive, and amateur theatricals unleash rivalry and sexual jealousy, Fanny has to fight to retain her independence. This new edition places Mansfield Park in its Regency context and elucidates the theatrical background that pervades the novel.

    7 in stock

    £6.93

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