ELT & Literary Studies Books

Book SynopsisA deluxe hardcover edition of one of James Baldwin?s most admired works, exploring what it means to be Black in America and his own search for identityPart of the Beacon Classics series Originally published in 1955, James Baldwin''s timeless and moving essays on life in Harlem, the protest novel, movies, and African Americans abroad inaugurated him as one of the leading interpreters of the dramatic social changes erupting in the United States in the 20th century. Through a mix of autobiographical and analytical essays, Baldwin delivers honest and raw revelations about what it means to be Black in America, specifically pre-Civil Rights Movement, and how, he himself, came to understand the nation.Writing as an artist, activist, and social critic, Baldwin examines everything from the significance of the protest novel to the motives and circumstances of the many Black expatriates of the time, from his home in ?The Harlem Ghetto? to a sobering ?Journey to Atlanta.? He was one of the few writing on race at the time who addressed the issue with a powerful mixture of outrage at the gross physical and political violence against Black citizens and measured understanding of their oppressors, which helped awaken a white audience to the injustices under their noses.For fans of Baldwin''s well-known works or those new to Baldwin altogether, this celebrated essay collection showcases his extraordinary writing, revolutionary analyses, and prophetic insight into American culture and politics.

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Book SynopsisA book for students, teachers, and scholars; this is an Internet guide written for those who love and study literature. It includes pieces on navigating literary sites, plagiarism, and the implications of the Internet for literary studies.Trade Review"Recommended for graduate and undergraduate faculty and students in literature courses." -- ChoiceTable of ContentsIntroduction, Acknowledgments, CHAPTER 1: The Internet as a Whole, CHAPTER 2: Searching the Internet, CHAPTER 3: Kinds of Literary Websites, CHAPTER 4: Literary Guide to the Internet: A Bibliography, CHAPTER 5: Literary Guide to the Internet: A Bibliography (Continued), CHAPTER 6: Evaluation of Sites, CHAPTER 7: The Internet and Teaching, CHAPTER 8: Literary Texts and Literary Careers in the Electronic Age, CHAPTER 9: Literature and the Internet: Theoretical and Political Considerations, Works Cited, Index

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Book SynopsisPart of "Introductions to British Literature and Culture" series, this volume features an introduction to Victorian literature and its contexts from 1837-1901. It also offers an overview of the historical, cultural and intellectual background including politics and economics, popular culture, philosophy and religion.Trade Review"'[this] series offers both the student reader and teacher exciting and invaluable interventions in and reorientations around questions of history, culture, and period... With brio, verve, and an admirable brevity, the series grounds our understanding of literature and culture in thought-provoking and highly original ways.... an indispensable series that will set the benchmark for all such surveys and overviews.' Julian Wolfreys, Professor of Victorian Literary and Cultural Studies at the University of Florida."Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Historical, Cultural and Intellectual Context; 2.1 Arts and Culture; 2.2 Philosophy and Religion; 2.3. Politics and Economics; 2.4. Developments in Science and Technology; 3. Literature in the Victorian Period; 3.1 Poetry; 3.2 Fiction; 3.3 Drama; 3.4 Non-Fictional Prose; 3.5 Literary Movements; 4. Critical Approaches; 4.1 Historical Overview; 4.2 Current Issues and Debates; 5. Resources for Independent Study; 5.1 Chronology of Key Historical and Cultural Events; 5.2 Glossary of Key Literary Terms and Concepts; 5.3 Further Reading and Resources; Index.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThis Element explores the changing landscape of eBook businesses and cultures in China in the past two decades and examines how disruptive innovation and the platform economy have transformed one of the world's largest book markets.

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Book SynopsisA new series of bespoke, full-coverage resources developed for the 2015 A Level English qualifications. Endorsed for the AQA A/AS Level English Literature B specifications for first teaching from 2015, this print Student Book is suitable for all abilities, providing stretch opportunities for the more able and additional scaffolding for those who need it. Helping bridge the gap between GCSE and A Level, the unique three-part structure focuses on texts within a particular time period and supports students in interpreting texts and reflecting on how writers make meaning. An enhanced digital version and free Teacher''s Resource are also available.Table of ContentsIntroduction; BEGINNING: 1. Key concepts for literary study; 2. Poetry; 3. Drama; 4. The novel; DEVELOPING: 5. Tragedy; 5.1 Introduction to tragedy; 5.2 Development of tragedy; 5.3 Aspects of tragedy; 5.4 Voices and perspectives in tragedy; 5.5 Bringing it all together; 6. Comedy; 6.1 Introduction to comedy; 6.2 Development of comedy; 6.3 Aspects of comedy; 6.4 Voices and perspectives in comedy; 6.5 Bringing it all together; 7. Crime writing; 7.1 Introduction to crime writing; 7.2 Development of crime writing; 7.3 Elements of crime writing; 7.4 Narrative form and plot devices in crime writing; 7.5 Character types in crime writing; 7.6 Representation in crime writing; 7.7 Bringing it all together; 8. Political and social protest writing; 8.1 Introduction to political and social protest writing; 8.2 Development of political and social protest writing; 8.3 Elements of political writing; 8.4 Representation in political writing; 8.5 Bringing it all together; 9. Literary theory; 9.1 What is literary theory?; 9.2 Theoretical perspectives; 9.3 Value and the canon; 9.4 Narrative; 9.5 Feminism; 9.6 Marxism; 9.7 Eco-critical theory; 9.8 Post-colonial theory; 9.9 Approaching the non-exam assessment; 9.10 Bringing it all together; 10 Critical and creative responses to literature; 10.1 Introducing criticism and creativity; 10.2 Reading as a writer, writing as a reader; 10.3 Reading; 10.4 Writing; 11 Preparing for your exam; 11.1 Examined assessment and non-exam assessment; 11.2 Writing critical essays; 11.3 Writing creative responses to literary texts; 11.4 Bringing it all together; ENRICHING: 12 Tragedy; 13 Comedy; 14 Crime writing; 15 Political and social protest writing; 16 Literary theory; 17 Critical and creative responses to literature; Index; Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisBob Dylan has helped transform music, literature, pop culture, and even politics. The World of Bob Dylan chronicles a lifetime of creative invention that has made a global impact. Leading rock and pop critics and music scholars address themes and topics central to Dylan''s life and work: the Blues, his religious faith, Civil Rights, Gender, Race, and American and World literature. Incorporating a rich array of new archival material from never before accessed archives, The World of Bob Dylan offers a comprehensive, uniquely informed and wholly fresh account of the songwriter, artist, filmmaker, and Nobel Laureate whose unique voice has permanently reshaped our cultural landscape.Trade Review'(The World of Bob Dylan) offers a comprehensive overview of Bobdom - musical influences from sea shanties and highland ballads to blues and gospel, his interest in Brecht and the Beat poets, the politics of the civil rights movement and the counterculture, and more.' Neil Spencer, The Observer'An illuminating read for both the fanatic and the more casual fan.' Ben Phillipson, Shindig!'Latham's symposium covers huge ground … (and) many of the contributions sing.' Danny Eccleston, Mojo'Crammed with insights into Dylan's world … fans will already have it on order.' Tony Burke, Record Collector'A book filled with scholarly scruple and imaginative audacity. A true Dylanfest.' Declan Kiberd, Irish Times'The World Of Bob Dylan kicks off an archival deep dive into the legacy and cultural importance of Dylan in thoroughly academic manner that remains enjoyable. This book pairs well with Dylan's expansive discography and will more than likely lead to a greater appreciation for the singer-songwriter.' Gerrod Harris, Spill Magazine'This is an excellent volume, and the different contributions are of a uniformly high standard. The range of aspects of Dylan studies covered is impressive.' Christopher Rollason, Dylan ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction Sean Latham; I. Creative Life: 1. A Chronology of Bob Dylan's Life Kevin Dettmar and Sean Latham; 2. The Biographies Andrew Muir; 3. Songwriting Sean Latham 4. The Singles: A Playlist for Framing Dylan's Recording Art Keith Negus; II. Musical Contexts: 5. Folk Music Ronald D. Cohen; 6. The Blues: 'Kill Everybody Ever Done Me Wrong' Greil Marcus; 7. Gospel Music Gayle Wald; 8. Country Music: Dylan, Cash, and the Projection of Authenticity Leigh H. Edwards; 9. Rock Music Ira Wells; 10. Roots Music: Born in a Basement Kim Ruehl; 11. The Great American Songbook: 'Better Duck Down the [Tin Pan] Alley Way, Lookin' for a New Friend' Larry Starr; III. Cultural Contexts: 12. American Literature Florence Dore; 13. World Literature Anne-Marie Mai; 14. The Beats Steven Belletto; 15. Theatre Damian A. Carpenter; 16. Visual Arts: Goya's Kiss Raphael Falco; 17. Borrowing Kevin Dettmar; 18. Judaism: Saturnine Melancholy and Dylan's Jewish Gnosis Elliot R. Wolfson; 19. Christianity: An Exegesis of Modern Times Andrew McCarron; IV. Political Contexts: 20. The Civil Rights Movement Will Kaufman; 21. The Counterculture Michael J. Kramer; 22. Gender and Sexuality: Bob Dylan's Body Ann Powers; 23. Justice Lisa O'Neill-Sanders; V. Reception and Legacy: 24. The Bob Dylan Brand Devon Powers; 25. The Nobel Prize: The Dramaturgy of Consecration James F. English; 26. Stardom and Fandom David R. Shumway; 27. The Bob Dylan Archive® Mark Davidson.

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Book SynopsisPREPARE FOR SUCCESS WITH YORK NOTES WORKBOOKS!   York Notes for GCSE Workbooks offer a wide range of write-in tasks and exercises to boost your knowledge of the text and help you practise for the exam:   Learn: Tasks and answers on every area of the text, from Plot and Action and Characters to Key Contexts, Themes, Language and Structure, will help to enhance your learning and take your revision further. Practise: With exercises on spelling, punctuation and grammar, sample paragraphs and exam-style questions, you can practise and perfect all the key skills you need to write top-quality answers. Test yourself: Use the quick tests and longer questions to put your knowledge to the test. Monitor your progress at every stage and stay on track for success!   Did you know? York Notes for GCSE Workbooks are the perfect partner to the bestselling York Notes for GCSE Study Guides. Use them toTable of Contents Part 1: Getting Started Part 2: Plot and Action Part 3: Characters Part 4: Key Contexts and Themes Part 5: Form, Structure and Language Part 6: Progress Booster

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Book SynopsisOur brand-new York Notes for GCSE Workbooks offer a wide range of write-in tasks and exercises to boost your students' knowledge of the text and help them practise for the new GCSE (9-1) English Literature exams.

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Book SynopsisIn lucid, elegant poems, Forever contemplates love against the pressing question of mortality after a diagnosis of cancerTrade Review"The poems in Forever wash over you like waves, lift you up and set you down back at the beginning of your life. Some of the people are familiar; the landscape is beautifully strange. You pick up your favorite book and start reading it again, but fo" -- Rob Schlegel"Magnificent. At once elemental—Freud might say "oceanic"—in its psychic vista, yet particular as one man’s life, loves, and losses, Forever is a wrenchingly personal account of memory, sorrow, and profound beauty, rendered in lyric poetry. It is also James Longenbach’s finest book, wrought of remarkable paradoxes—to be so precise, so spare, yet to be so inclusive, so elegant—where mortality shadows every erotic or tender gesture. That such existential breadth of vision comes at our moments of deepest crisis is—let me be clear—never a given. But it is, in Forever, Longenbach’s gift." -- David Baker"The lyric poems of James Longenbach’s Forever devastate, for they enact with such precision the very problem they pronounce: that the pleasure of the language we read can, like memory, only approach the lives we actually live. Line by line, the poems’ likelihood to narrate, repeat, or gorgeously veer describes what it is to love and simultaneously feel oneself inside the grandiosity of time." -- Sally Keith"In the pages of this tender, immediate, sharp book, you can find something our world has made nearly impossible: language freed of lies that nevertheless consoles. James Longenbach turns his cry outward, as if toward a friend in a future he won’t see, sur" -- Katie Peterson"The lyric poems of James Longenbach’s Forever devastate, for they enact with such precision the very problem they pronounce: that the pleasure of the language we read can, like memory, only approach the lives we actually live. Line by line, the poems’ likelihood to narrate, repeat, or gorgeously veer describes what it is to love and simultaneously feel oneself inside the grandiosity of time." -- Sally Keith

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Book SynopsisThis is the OCR-endorsed edition covering the Latin AS and A-Level (Group 1) prescription of Tacitus Annals XII, 25-26, 4143, 5253, 5659, 6469, giving full Latin text, commentary and vocabulary, with a detailed introduction.It is AD 48 and the emperor Claudius marries his 4th wife Agrippina. Little does he know that over the next six years she will build her power and destroy her opponents, until she is ready for her greatest crime the murder of Claudius himself to enable the accession of her son Nero. Tacitus creates a gripping account of the struggle for power under a weak princeps, involving family rivals, scheming freedmen and servile senators.Supporting resources are available on the Companion Website: https://www.bloomsbury.pub/OCR-editions-2024-2026Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Text Commentary Notes Vocabulary

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Book SynopsisThis is the OCR-endorsed edition covering the Latin A-Level (Group 4) prescription of Ovid, Fasti 2.533616, 687852, giving full Latin text, commentary and vocabulary, with a detailed introduction that also covers the prescribed material to be read in English. Ovid's Fasti is a fascinating poem, which discusses key events in the Roman religious calendar, along with their mythological and historical origins. As such it provides a remarkable opportunity for readers to experience the intersection of poetry and Roman socio-cultural values'. These extracts from Fasti II include the story of Hercules and Omphale, along with one of the most famous tales from Roman history, the story of Lucretia and the ensuing expulsion of the Roman Kings and creation of the Republic. Through his treatment of this latter narrative in particular, Ovid is not only playing with historical tradition, but also asking his Roman readers to perceive the echoes of the past in their present experienTable of ContentsPreface Introduction Text Commentary Notes Vocabulary

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Book SynopsisThis is the OCR-endorsed edition covering the Greek GCSE set text prescriptions examined from 2025 to 2026. The texts covered are:HomerIliad VI, lines 370-413 and 429-502HerodotusSections XIa (First Capture of Babylon), XII (Rebuff to Darius), XIII (The Babylonian Wife Market), XIVb (Megacles' marriage)EuripidesMedea, lines 230-291 and 358-409XenophonThe Persian Expedition, Chapter 8: The Battle of Cunaxa (omitting 8:8-10)The volume starts with an introduction to ancient Greek history and culture, which sets in context the passages for the exams and gives guidance on how to translate ancient Greek. The prescribed texts are set out in clear passages facing commentary notes, with further information on GCSE vocabulary and key terms as well as study questions. The full GCSE vocabulary is provided at the back of the book and a timeline, Who''s Who, glossaries and map combine to give students a focused preparation for their exams.SupplementarTable of ContentsPreface Introduction Table of Texts How to Use this Book Tips for Translation Timeline Who’s Who Map of the Ancient Mediterranean Technical terms Discussion of literary style Homer Herodotus Euripides Xenophon OCR Greek GCSE Defined Vocabulary List

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Book SynopsisNigeria, England, America, Jamaica; are you proud of where you''re from? Dark skinned, light skinned, afro, weaves, who are your true brothers and sisters?When two brothers from different continents go down the street to buy a pint of milk, they lift the lid on a disunited nation where everyone wants to be an individual but no one wants to stand out from the crowd.A debut work produced at the Royal Court''s Young Writers Festival, Gone Too Far! is a comic and astute play about identity, history and culture, portraying a world where respect is always demanded but rarely freely given.Gone Too Far! premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in 2007 where it was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, 2008. It is published here in an abridged form as part of Methuen Drama''s Plays For Young People series.Trade ReviewAgbaje has an astute eye and ear and offers a different perspective to her male counterparts. * Guardian *In her remarkable debut as a playwright Bola Agbaje walks two teenage black brothers around a dilapidated London council estate. She exploits their close encounters to give us a jolting lesson about the range of identities, beliefs and anxieties concealed beneath black or blackish skins. * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisWe think we'll be alright - because we wade through air, not water, but that's not enough.Best friends Mohsen and Kash are gearing up for the biggest night of their lives Jess Denver's pool party. There's just one problem... they can't swim.Fueled by halal Haribo and chicken wings, the pair throw themselves in at the deep end, tackling cramped cubicles and cold showers as they learn how to be at one with the water.Fierce, funny, and brimming with heart, Karim Khan examines the pressures faced by young Muslim men in this exhilarating new play about fitting in and striking out. This was published to coincide with the production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, in August 2022.

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Book SynopsisWinner of Best New Play at the 2023 UK Theatre Awards Winner of Best New Play at the 2023 Critics' Awards for Theatre in ScotlandTo keep that part of me silent. That is what is unbearable. That is why I must be free.Based on a true story, Enough of Him explores the life of Joseph Knight, an African man enslaved by plantation owner Sir John Wedderburn and brought to Scotland to serve in his Perthshire mansion.Highly favoured by Wedderburn and yet still enslaved, Knight balances on the knife edge between obligation and a soul-deep yearning for freedom. He forges a bond with Annie, a young Scottish servant working in the household, and the two of them fall in love.But the walls of Ballindean do not keep secrets their affair unsettles Lady Wedderburn, whose bitter loneliness is only deepened by the close bond her husband has with Knight. Joseph will endure bondage no longer. What happens when Joseph's dreams clash with those of the man who owns him? What become

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Book SynopsisThe only exam-board approved book for the texts examined as part of OCR's GCSE in Classical Greek for examination in 2027-2028.

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Book SynopsisGavin Kostick is the literary officer at Fishamble theatre company in Dublin. There, he works with new writers for theatre through script development, readings and a variety of courses. Gavin is also an award-winning playwright. He has written over a dozen plays which have been produced in Dublin, on tour around Ireland, the UK, New York, Philadelphia and Romania. His most recent works are The End of the Road for Fishamble, This is What we Sang for Kabosh (Belfast and New York), The Sit and Fight Night on tour 2011 and An Image for the Rose outdoors for Whiplash Theatre Company.

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Book SynopsisLiterary Criticism from Plato to the Presentprovides a concise and authoritative overview of the development of Western literary criticism and theory from the Classical period to the present day An indispensable and intellectually stimulating introduction to the history of literary criticism and theory Introduces the major movements, figures, and texts of literary criticism Provides historical context and shows the interconnections between various theories An ideal text for all students of literature and criticism Trade Review"Habib aims to offer a concise, authoritative overview of literary criticism and theory in the West via an in-depth examination of its key movements, figures and texts." (Times Higher Education Supplement, 24 February 2011) Table of ContentsAcknowledgments. Introduction. Part I Classical Literary Criticism and Rhetoric. 1 Classical Literary Criticism. Introduction to the Classical Period. Plato (428–ca. 347 BC). Aristotle (384–322 BC). 2 The Traditions of Rhetoric. Greek Rhetoric. Roman Rhetoric. The Subsequent History of Rhetoric: An Overview. The Legacy of Rhetoric. 3 Greek and Latin Criticism During the Roman Empire. Horace (65–8 BC). Longinus (First Century AD). Neo-Platonism. Part II The Medieval Era. 4 The Early Middle Ages. Historical Background. Intellectual and Theological Currents. 5 The Later Middle Ages. Historical Background. Intellectual Currents of the Later Middle Ages. The Traditions of Medieval Criticism. Transitions: Medieval Humanism. Part III The Early Modern Period to the Enlightenment. 6 The Early Modern Period. Historical Background. Intellectual Background. Confronting the Classical Heritage. Defending the Vernacular. Poetics and the Defense of Poetry. Poetic Form and Rhetoric. 7 Neoclassical Literary Criticism. French Neoclassicism. Neoclassicism in England. 8 The Enlightenment. Historical and Intellectual Background. Enlightenment Literary Criticism: Language, Taste, and Imagination. 9 The Aesthetics of Kant and Hegel. Immanuel Kant (1724–1804). Hegel (1770–1831). Part IV Romanticism and the Later Nineteenth Century. 10 Romanticism. Germany. France. England. America. 11 Realism, Naturalism, Symbolism, and Aestheticism. Historical Background: The Later Nineteenth Century. Realism and Naturalism. Symbolism and Aestheticism. 12 The Heterological Thinkers. Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860). Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900). Henri Bergson (1859–1941). Matthew Arnold (1822–1888). Part V The Twentieth Century: A Brief Introduction. Introduction. 13 From Liberal Humanism to Formalism. The Background of Modernism. The Poetics of Modernism: W. B. Yeats, Ezra Pound, and T. S. Eliot. Formalism. Russian Formalism. The New Criticism. 14 Socially Conscious Criticism of the Earlier Twentieth Century. F. R. Leavis. Marxist and Left-Wing Criticism. The Fundamental Principles of Marxism. Marxist Literary Criticism: A Historical Overview. Early Feminist Criticism: Simone de Beauvoir and Virginia Woolf. 15 Phenomenology, Existentialism, Structuralism. Phenomenology. Existentialism. Heterology. Structuralism. 16 The Era of Poststructuralism (I): Later Marxism, Psychoanalysis, Deconstruction. Later Marxist Criticism. Psychoanalysis. Deconstruction. 17 The Era of Poststructuralism (II): Postmodernism, Modern Feminism, Gender Studies. Jurgen Habermas (b. 1929). Jean Baudrillard (1929–2007). Jean-Fran¸cois Lyotard (1924–1998). bell hooks (Gloria Jean Watkins; b. 1952). Modern Feminism. Gender Studies. 18 The Later Twentieth Century: New Historicism, Reader-Response Theory, Postcolonial Criticism, Cultural Studies. The New Historicism. Reader-Response and Reception Theory. Postcolonial Criticism. Cultural Studies. Epilogue New Directions: Looking Back, Looking Forward. Index.

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Book SynopsisBased on the 'No Fear Shakespeare' translations, this dynamic graphic novel features an illustrated cast of characters and a helpful plot summary.Trade Review“. . . makes the Bard even more accessible. . . . its clear, black-and-white scenes often shifting into a stark, expressionistic mode that heightens the drama. Along with a nicely digestible version of the play, this will give readers a feel for Shakespeare’s language and wordplay.“ —Booklist“. . . makes the Bard even more accessible. . . . its clear, black-and-white scenes often shifting into a stark, expressionistic mode that heightens the drama. Along with a nicely digestible version of the play, this will give readers a feel for Shakespeare’s language and wordplay.“ —Booklist

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Book SynopsisThis volume is designed to accompany the OCR A-Level specification in Latin (first teaching September 2016), with practice unseen passages from Livy, the set prose for Paper 1, together with passages from a selection of other writers to support Paper 2, for which no author is set. A bank of 80 passages aims to take Sixth Form students from the level of heavily adapted post-GCSE (AS'-equivalent) passages and develop their knowledge and skills to reach A-Level standard. But this is not just a book of unseen passages: there is a chronological progression through the unseens in order to give the reader a sense of the narrative of Roman history, exploring key events through the words of original texts. Every passage begins with an introduction, outlining the basic content of the passage, followed by a ''lead-in'' sentence, paraphrasing the few lines before the passage begins. Part 1 passages are straight translation exercises on the model of the A-Level Paper 1. They also feature, howeverTrade ReviewIf a teacher is searching for a prose reader that has breadth and does not suffer from traditional dryness, that teacher should give this book a close inspection. * Classical Journal *Table of ContentsPreface Abbreviations Introduction to Roman prose writers Grammatical reminders Rome’s story: an introduction to the historical overviews Part I – Unseen Translation Exercises (Livy) In the Beginning (Passages I.1 – I.12) War with Carthage (Passages I.13 – I.26) Rome and the East (Passages I.27 – I.40) Part II – Unseen Comprehension Exercises (Other prose writers) The Problems of Empire (Passages II.1 – II.12) The Fall of the Republic (Passages II.13 – II.27) The Emperors (Passages II.28 – II.40) The End … for now Vocabulary checklists Index locorum

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Book Synopsis''If a thing loves, it is infinite'' William BlakeA short, impassioned argument for why the visionary artist William Blake is important in the twenty-first centuryThe visionary poet and painter William Blake is a constant presence throughout contemporary culture - from videogames to novels, from sporting events to political rallies and from horror films to designer fashion. Although he died nearly 200 years ago, something about his work continues to haunt the twenty-first century. What is it about Blake that has so endured? In this illuminating essay, John Higgs takes us on a whirlwind tour to prove that far from being the mere New Age counterculture figure that many assume him to be, Blake is now more relevant than ever.

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Book SynopsisWho are we and how do we define our inner selves? In his last work, Professor Stephen Prickett presents a literary and cultural exploration of our inner selves and how we have created and written about them from the Old Testament to social media. What he finds is that although our secret, inner, sense of self what we feel makes us distinctively us' seems a natural and permanent part of being human, it is in fact surprisingly new. Whilst confessional religious writings, from Augustine to Jane Austen, or even diaries of 20th-century Holocaust victims, have explored inwards as part of a path to self-discovery, our inner space has expanded beyond any possible personal experience. This development has enhanced our capacity not merely to write about what we have never seen, but even to create fantasies and impossible fictions around them.Yet our secret selves can also be a source of terror. The fringes of our inner worlds are often porous, ill-defined and susceptible to frightening formsTrade ReviewSecret Selves is a remarkable book, at once deeply personal and also a reflection on a profession spent with literature and art ... the product of lifetime of reading and teaching, moving with ease across texts and the images of Western art. It is a reflection on the selves whom we think we know well, and the selves in all of us that remain secret. * The Coleridge Bulletin *This is a fascinating book, written with clarity and charm. What is engaging as well as convincing is how Stephen Prickett traces out the visible emergence, usually in literature but also painting and film, of a conception of the interior life, suggesting how we might read evidence of it even in a single word or phrase. An impressive, memorable study that will, aptly, linger in the mind. * Francis O’Gorman, Saintsbury Professor of English Literature, University of Edinburgh, UK, and author of Worrying: A Literary and Cultural History *With a beguiling lightness of touch, Stephen Prickett explores the immense and fascinating landscape of the human mind. His book provokes, challenges and delights in equal measure. It's a joy. * The Rt Revd Dr Christopher Herbert, Visiting Professor in Christian Ethics, University of Surrey, UK *Stephen Prickett's many books on the evolution of the modern European imagination were without fail deeply original, written with wit, clarity and an immense range of reference. This – sadly posthumous – work is no exception. I can think of no other recent book that offers so rich an exploration of how modern people learned to think about their “inner selves,” with examples ranging from children's books to debates on Artificial Intelligence. A brilliant, humane, many-faceted study. * Rowan Williams, former Master of Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, UK *Table of ContentsIntroduction: A Self-Conscious Story 1. Visions, Dreams – and that which hath no Bottom 2. Room On All Three Floors: Dante to Macdonald 3. The Mind has Mountains: Landscape into Psyche 4. From China to Peru: Global Imaginations 5. Children’s Spaces: Adult Fantasies 6. Far Fetched Facts and Further Fictions: Furnishing with Extremes 7. Experience of Self: From Identity to Individuality Conclusion: Know Thyself: Facebook, Cyborgs, and Reincarnation Index

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Book SynopsisLondon: An Illustrated Literary Companion, compiled by Rosemary Gray, captures the varying moods of the great city over recent centuries, through diary entries, with quotations, poems, essays and extracts from great works written in its honour. It is beautifully illustrated with drawings and engravings from distinguished artists, including Gustave Doré, George Cruikshank, James McNeill Whistler and Hugh Thomson, and contains contemporary prints and photographs.Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-FictionLonglisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Writing'If you have even the slightest interest in Orwell or in the development of our culture, you should not miss this engrossing, enlightening book.' - John Carey, The Sunday TimesGeorge Orwell's last novel has become one of the iconic narratives of the modern world. Its ideas have become part of the language - from 'Big Brother' to the 'Thought Police', 'Doublethink', and 'Newspeak' - and seem ever more relevant in the era of 'fake news' and 'alternative facts'.The cultural influence of 1984 can be observed in some of the most notable creations of the past seventy years, from Margaret Atwood's The Handmaids Tale to Terry Gilliam's Brazil, from Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s V for Vendetta to David Bowie's Diamond Dogs – and from the launch of Apple Mac to the reality TV landmark, Big Brother.In this remarkable and original book. Dorian Lynskey investigates the influences that came together in the writing of 1984 from Orwell's experiences in the Spanish Civil War and war-time London to his book's roots in utopian and dystopian fiction. He explores the phenomenon that the novel became on publication and the changing ways in which it has been read over the decades since.2019 marks the seventieth anniversary of the publication of what is arguably Orwell’s masterpiece, while the year 1984 itself is now as distant from us as it was from Orwell on publication day. The Ministry of Truth is a fascinating examination of one of the most significant works of modern English literature. It describes how history can inform fiction and how fiction can influence history.Trade ReviewThe Ministry of Truth is the best book I have read in a long time. Fizzing with ideas yet superbly readable, it takes us though Orwell’s life and the development of twentieth-century utopias and dystopias, to the long afterlife of Orwell’s greatest work, read and misread during the Cold War as simple anti-communist propaganda, then in the 1980s as a failed prophecy, before finally and frighteningly showing it as a warning for our own age. When today 1984 is scrubbed from the internet in China, Russia weaponises lies on social media, and in the West a Trump adviser talks of “alternative facts” on his Inauguration Day, Lynskey's book is both a warning and an exhortation for us all to be stubborn as Orwell was with facts, and like Winston Smith to cling to the belief that 2+2=4. -- C. J. SansomFascinating . . . Freshly and powerfully argued . . . If you have even the slightest interest in Orwell or in the development of our culture, you should not miss this engrossing, enlightening book. -- John Carey, The Sunday TimesEverything you wanted to know about 1984 but were too busy misusing the word -Orwellian- to ask. -- Caitlin Moran

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Book SynopsisThis anthology brings together extensive selections of poetry by the five most prolific and prominent women poets of the English Civil War period: Anne Bradstreet, Hester Pulter, Margaret Cavendish, Katherine Philips and Lucy Hutchinson. It presents these poems in modern-spelling, clear-text versions for classroom use, and for ready comparison to mainstream editions of male poets’ work. The anthology reveals the diversity of women’s poetry in the mid-seventeenth century, across political affiliations and forms of publication. Notes on the poems and an introduction explain the contexts of Civil War, religious conflict, and scientific and literary development. The anthology enables a more comprehensive understanding of seventeenth-century women’s poetic culture, both in its own right and in relation to prominent male poets such as Marvell, Milton and Dryden.Trade Review‘Sarah Ross and Elizabeth Scott-Baumann’s readable, beautifully presented, and affordable new anthology, Women Writers of the English Civil War, makes it easier than ever before to appreciate the extent to which women poets participated in )and fundamentally contributed to) early modern experiments in poetic form.’Dianne Mitchell, Renaissance Studies -- .Table of ContentsIntroductionAnne Bradstreetfrom The Tenth Muse (1650)The PrologueThe Four MonarchiesA Dialogue between Old England and NewAn Elegy upon that Honourable and Renowned Knight, Sir Philip Sidney (1650)In Honour of Du BartasIn Honour of that High and Mighty Princess, Queen ElizabethDavid’s Lamentation for Saul and Jonathan from Several Poems (1678)An Elegy upon that Honourable and Renowned Knight, Sir Philip Sidney (1678)The Flesh and the SpiritThe Author to her BookA Letter to her Husband, Absent upon Public EmploymentAnotherIn Memory of my Dear Grandchild Elizabeth BradstreetHester PulterThe Invitation into the Country, to my Dear DaughtersThe Complaint of ThamesOn Those Two Unparalleled Friends, Sir George Lisle and Sir Charles LucasUpon the Death of my Dear and Lovely DaughterOn the Same [Tell me no more]Upon the Imprisonment of his Sacred Majesty, that Unparalleled Prince King Charles the FirstOn the Horrid Murder of that Incomparable Prince, King Charles the FirstOn the Same [Let none sigh more]The Circle [1]Dear God turn not away thy faceThe Circle [2]On the King’s Most Excellent MajestyTo my Dear J.P., M.P., P.P, They Being at London, I at BroadfieldA Solitary ComplaintMust I thus ever interdicted be?Why must I thus forever be confinedTo Sir William Davenant, upon the Unspeakable Loss of the Most Conspicuous and Chief Ornament of his FrontispieceThe Weeping WishEmblem 4Emblem 20Emblem 22Katherine Philipsfrom the ‘Tutin’ Manuscript To my Dearest Antenor on his PartingA Retired Friendship, to ArdeliaFriendship’s Mysteries, to my Dearest LucasiaContent, to my Dearest LucasiaFriendship in Emblem, or the Seal, to my Dearest Lucasiafrom the ‘Tutin’ Manuscript, reverseThe WorldThe SoulInvitation to the CountryOn the 3rd September 16512 Corinthians 5:19from Poems (1664)Upon the Double Murder of King Charles IOn the Numerous Access of the English to Wait upon the King in FlandersArion on a Dolphin, to his Majesty in his Passage into EnglandOn the Fair Weather Just at CoronationOn the Death of the Queen of BohemiaTo the Right Honourable Alice Countess of CarberyTo Antenor, on a Paper of mine which J. Jones Threatens to Publish to Prejudice HimA Country LifeUpon Mr. Abraham Cowley’s Retirementfrom Poems (1667)Epitaph on her Son H. P. at St Sith’s ChurchTo my Antenor, March 16 1661/2Orinda upon Little Hector PhilipsMargaret Cavendish from Philosophical Fancies (1653)Of Sense and Reason Exercised in their Different Shapes A Dialogue between the Body and the Mind An Elegy from Poems and Fancies (1664)The Poetress’s Hasty ResolutionA World Made by Atoms Of the Subtlety of MotionOf Vacuum Of Stars A World in an Earring The Purchase of Poets A Dialogue between Man and Nature A Dialogue between an Oak and a Man Cutting him Down A Dialogue between a Bountiful Knight and a Castle Ruined in War The Clasp The Hunting of the Hare A Description of an Island The Ruin of this Island Wherein Poetry Chiefly Consists A Description of a Shepherd’s and Shepherdess’s LifeThe Clasp: Of Fairies in the BrainUpon the Funeral of my Dear Brother Lucy Hutchinsonfrom De Rerum NaturaBook 1, lines 1-152Book 2, lines 1048-1180Book 4, lines 1019-1321To Mr Waller upon his Panegyric to the Lord Protectorfrom Elegies1. Leave off, ye pitying friends2. To the Sun Shining into her Chamber2(a). Ah! Why doth death its latest stroke delay3. Another on the Sun Shine 7. To the Garden at Owthorpe10. The Recovery12. Musings in my Evening Walks at Owthorpe14. On the Spring, 166820. You sons of England whose unquenched flamefrom Order and DisorderPrefaceBook 1, lines 1-150Book 3, lines 91-188Book 9, lines 1-122from Memoirs of the Life of the Colonel HutchinsonAll Sorts of MenTextual introductionTextual notesIndex of first lines

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Book SynopsisScholars of Edmund Spenser have focused much more on his accomplishments in epic and pastoral than his work in satire. Scholars of early modern English satire almost never discuss Spenser. However, these critical gaps stem from later developments in the canon rather than any insignificance in Spenser's accomplishments and influence on satiric poetry. This book argues that the indirect form of satire developed by Spenser served during and after Spenser's lifetime as an important model for other poets who wished to convey satirical messages with some degree of safety. The book connects key Spenserian texts in The Shepheardes Calender and the Complaints volume with poems by a range of authors in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, including Joseph Hall, Thomas Nashe, Tailboys Dymoke, Thomas Middleton and George Wither, to advance the thesis that Spenser was seen by his contemporaries as highly relevant to satire in Elizabethan England.Trade Review‘Offers an important theoretical framework and textually detailed account of an overlooked genre in the history of satire.’Professor Lowell Gallagher, Studies in English Literature‘Hile’s book is an engaging and carefully researched study, which not only furthers our understanding of verse satires of the late-sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, but also invites scholars to reassess the importance of indirect satire in the trajectory of Spenser’s works and the influence it had on emerging writers. By prompting us to read Spenser’s satirical work alongside his epic, pastoral, and lyrical poetry, Hile expands our sense of him as “the poets’s poet”’Stuart Hart, The Sixteenth Century Journal, Vol 49, Issue 1, Spring 2018 -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1. Indirect satire: theory and Spenserian practice2. Spenser's satire of indirection: affiliation, allusion, allegory 3. Spenser and the English literary system in the 1590s4. Spenserian "entry codes" to indirect satire5. Thomas Middleton's satires before and after the Bishops' Ban6. After the Bishops' Ban: imitation of Spenserian satireConclusionIndex

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Book SynopsisThe first biography of this great and tragic poet that takes advantage of a wealth of new material, this is an unusually balanced, comprehensive and definitive life of Sylvia Plath.'Surely the final, the definitive, biography of Sylvia Plath' Ali Smith *WINNER OF THE SLIGHTLY FOXED PRIZE 2021* *A BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE DAILY TELEGRAPH AND THE TIMES* *FINALIST FOR THE PULITZER PRIZE IN BIOGRAPHY 2021*Drawing on a wealth of new material, Heather Clark brings to life the great and tragic poet, Sylvia Plath. Refusing to read Plath's work as if her every act was a harbinger of her fate, Clark evokes a culture in transition in the mid-twentieth century as she thoroughly explores Sylvia's world. We see Plath's early relationships and determination not to become a conventional woman and wife; we witness her Cambridge years and thunderclap meeting with Ted Hughes; and, through clear-eyed portraits of the demonised players in the arena of her suicide, we gain a deeper understanding of her final days.Featuring illuminating readings of Plath's poems, Red Comet brings us closer than ever to the spirited woman and visionary artist who blazed a trail that still lights the way for women the world over.'A first-class biography . . . Each chapter reads with the ease of a novel . . . I couldn't put it down' The TimesTrade ReviewA first-class biography... Red Comet is a mighty achievement. Clark is compassionate, clear-eyed, sceptical. Each chapter reads with the ease of a novel... I couldn't put it down. -- Laura Freeman * The Times *Rescuing Sylvia Plath from the cult of her fans...[Red Comet,] a terrific, even-handed biography of Plath frees the poet from the narrow view of her as 'a mind on course for suicide'... Heather Clark's meticulous research, sweeping up every scrap, deftly integrates drafts, unpublished pieces, stories and critiques of poems...to make this extraordinary story more moving than ever. -- Lyndall Gordon * Daily Telegraph *At last, there is Red Comet, a major biography that recognises Sylvia Plath...and recovers her from cliché. It is a superbly researched, fluent and assured book...and Heather Clark writes with a rare empathy and understanding of her subject... Not one sentence seems extraneous... Red Comet reveals Plath as she ought to be seen. -- Ann Kennedy Smith * Times Literary Supplement *Clark's defining project, both a joyful affirmation for Plath fanatics and a legitimization of her legacy... Clark masterfully analyses the poetry with intelligent incorporation of the biography... In this mammoth biography of a short, troubled life, the deepest impression is of [Plath's] resilience and dogged energy. -- Jessica Ferri * Los Angeles Times *Finally, the biography that Sylvia Plath deserves, one that takes her seriously as both a poet and a person. Combining rigorous research with in-depth literary analysis and immersive style, Heather Clark's magisterial book not only traces Plath's influences and inspirations, but also chronicles her often-tumultuous relationships with respect and empathy. A spectacular achievement. -- Ruth Franklin, author of Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life

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Book SynopsisCéleste Albaret was Marcel Proust''s housekeeper in his last years, when he retreated from the world to devote himself to In Search of Lost Time. She could imitate his voice to perfection, and Proust himself said to her, 'You know everything about me.' Her reminiscences of her employer present an intimate picture of the daily life of a great writer who was also a deeply peculiar man, while Madame Albaret herself proves to be a shrewd and engaging companion.

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Book SynopsisA vivid, contemporary translation of the greatest Greek love poet—with a wealth of materials for understanding her work—by a prize-winning poet and translator   Sappho’s thrilling lyric verse has been unremittingly popular for more than 2,600 years—certainly a record for poetry of any kind—and love for her art only increases as time goes on. Though her extant work consists only of a collection of fragments and a handful of complete poems, her mystique endures to be discovered anew by each generation, and to inspire new efforts at bringing the spirit of her Greek words faithfully into English. In the past, translators have taken two basic approaches to Sappho: either very literally translating only the words in the fragments, or taking the liberty of reconstructing the missing parts. Willis Barnstone has taken a middle course, in which he remains faithful to the words of the fragments, only very judiciously filling in a word or phrase in cases where the meaning is obvious. This edition includes extensive notes and a special section of “Testimonia”: appreciations of Sappho in the words of ancient writers from Plato to Plutarch. Also included are a glossary of all the figures mentioned in the poems, and suggestions for further reading.

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Book SynopsisCountless would-be readers of Finnegans Wake — James Joyce’s 1939 masterwork, on which he labored for a third of his life — have given up after a few pages and “dismissed the book as a perverse triumph of the unintelligible.” In 1944, a young professor of mythology and literature named Joseph Campbell, working with novelist and poet Henry Morton Robinson, wrote the first guide to understanding the fascinating world of Finnegans Wake. Page by page, chapter by chapter, A Skeleton Key to Finnegans Wake outlines the basic action of Joyce’s book, simplifies and clarifies the complex web of images and allusions, and provides an understandable, continuous narrative from which the reader can venture out on his or her own. This edition includes a foreword and updates by Joyce scholar Dr. Edmund L. Epstein that add the context of sixty subsequent years of scholarship.

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Book SynopsisA History of Ecology and Environmentalism in Spanish American Literature undertakes a comprehensive ecocritical examination of the region’s literature from the foundational texts of the nineteenth century to the most recent fiction. The book begins with a consideration of the way in which Argentine Domingo Faustino Sarmiento’s views of nature through the lens of the categories of “civilization” and “barbarity” from Facundo (1845) are systematically challenged and revised in the rest of the century. Subsequently, this book develops the argument that a vital part of the cultural critique and aesthetic innovations of Spanish American modernismo involve an ecological challenge to deepening discourses of untamed development from Europe and the United States. In other chapters, many of the well-established titles of regional and indigenista literature are contrasted to counter-traditions within those genres that express aspects of environmental justice, “deep ecology,” the relational role of emotion in nature protectionism and conservationism, even the rights of non-human nature. Finally, the concluding chapters find that the articulation of ecological advocacy in recent fiction is both more explicit than what came before but also impacts the formal elements of literature in unique ways. Textual conventions such as language, imagery, focalization, narrative sequence, metafiction, satire, and parody represent innovations of form that proceed directly from the ethical advocacy of environmentalism. The book concludes with comments about what must follow as a result of the analysis including the revision of canon, the development of literary criticism from novel approaches such as critical animal studies, and the advent of a critical dialogue within the bounds of Spanish American environmentalist literature. A History of Ecology and Environmentalism in Spanish American Literature attempts to develop a sense of the way in which ecological ideas have developed over time in the literature, particularly the way in which many Spanish American texts anticipate several of the ecological discourses that have recently become so central to global culture, current environmentalist thought, and the future of humankind.Trade Review[R]eaders will find that DeVries possesses a thorough understanding of ecological criticism and environmentalism, exemplified by the book's introduction, where he establishes the theoretical framework for his study. For the benefit of those readers who do not have advanced proficiency in reading Spanish he provides an English translation of all Spanish quotations, including definitions of commonly employed Spanish American cultural and literary terminology. Readers who are unacquainted with Spanish American literature, beyond internationally known giants such as Gabriel García Márquez, Mario Vargas Llosa, or Pablo Neruda, will appreciate the sweeping scope of the author's work. DeVries has managed to deal in a cohesive fashion with a two-hundred year period—the post-independence literary production of the nineteen countries of the western hemisphere in which Spanish is an official language—unfolding 'the tradition of an ecological literature from Mexico to Patagonia and from Puerto Rico to Easter Island'. Those who are already familiar with Spanish American literature will value his insights into ecocriticism as well as his examination of the canon from a fresh perspective. As is the case with most groundbreaking studies, DeVries's work suggests myriad possibilities for future scholarship. * ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Part One: Foundations, Aesthetics, Ecology One: Foundations of Environment: Literary Political Ecologies of 19th Century Southern Cone Literature Two: Foundations from Topography: Literary Political Ecologies of 19th Century Andean, Amazonian, Caribbean, and Central American Literature Three: Green Modernism Part Two: Land, People, Ecology Four: Swallowed: Environmentalism in the Spanish American novela de la selva Five: Other Lands: Ecology in the Spanish American novela de la tierra Six: Ruin: The Precedents of Ecological Destruction in Early and Canonical indigenista Novels Seven: Indigenous Land: Place, then Space Part Three: Literature, Environmentalism, Ecology Eight: Nature after the “Boom”: Ecology and Environmentalism in Late 20th Century Spanish American Fiction Nine: Eco-Satire: Green Humor, Contaminated Imagery, and Environmental Language in Recent Spanish American Fiction Ten: Paradise Trashed: Utopian and Dystopian Ecological Scenarios in Gioconda Belli’s Waslala and Fernando Raga’s Gaia Trilogy Conclusions Bibliography Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisAn award-winning account of Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz’s most controversial novel and the fierce debates that it provoked Naguib Mahfouz’s novel Children of the Alley has been in the spotlight since it was first published in Egypt in 1959. It has been at times banned and at others allowed, sold sometimes under the counter and sometimes openly on the street, often pirated and only recently legally reprinted. It has inspired anxiety among the secular authorities, rage within the religious right, and a drawing of battle lines among Arab intellectuals and writers. It dogged Mahfouz like a curse throughout the remainder of his career, led to his attempted assassination, and sparked a public debate that continues to this day, even after the author’s death in 2006. It is Egypt’s iconic novel, in whose mirror millions have seen themselves, their society, and even the universe, some finding truth, others blasphemy.In this award-winning account, Mohamed Shoair traces the story of Mahfouz’s novel as a cultural and political object, from its first publication to the present via Mahfouz’s award of the Nobel prize for literature in 1988 and the attempt on his life in 1994. He presents the arguments that swirled about the novel and the wide cast of Egyptian figures, from state actors to secular intellectuals and Islamists, who took part in them. He also contextualizes the interactions among the principal characters, interactions that have done much to shape the country’s present.Extensively researched and written in a lucid, accessible style, The Story of the Banned Book is both a gripping work of investigative journalism and a window onto some of the fiercest debates around culture and religion to have taken place in Egyptian society over the past half-century.Trade Review“The Story of the Banned Book is highly researched investigative journalism at its best. . . . This is a fascinating study of the intricate dynamics of the intersectionality of the political, religious, social, and cultural life in modern Egypt.” —Arab Studies Quarterly“[A] forensic literary investigation. . . . Like any good detective—and Shoair is an exceptional one—he presents the reader with a fluent intellectual thriller, a cross-over book that will interest scholars of Arabic literature and intellectual historians as much as it will delight the general reader for whom it is mostly addressed. . . . The Story of the Banned Book is not only a literary and intellectual achievement, but also a methodological triumph.” —Yoav Di-Capua, The Journal of North African Studies"A thrilling thread on Naguib Mahfouz, literary rivalries, and Egyptian politics as they stood in the mid 20th century, pulled through the needle’s eye of the story of a single novel."— M. Lynx Qualey, ArabLit Quarterly"It is rare that one book documenting the life of another book sheds so much light on the literature, politics, religious feuds, and even cinematic trends of a couple of generations"—Peter Theroux, Middle East Quarterly“Diving deep into the various interpretations and defenses of Mahfouz's most famous novel . . . Shoair's investigation is a fascinating insight into the lack of literary freedom in Egypt at the time.” —Amelia Smith, Middle East Monitor"Readers invested in the ongoing debates about book banning will find this to be a worthy resource."—Publishers Weekly“The plot is more compelling than most literature I have read.” —Elliott Colla, Georgetown University"[E]xcellent and thought-provoking"—David Tresilian, Al-Ahram Weekly“The joy of this book is its evocation of time and place, and the way it seeks out what may be absent or forgotten from the stances of intellectuals. However Shoair does not recount gossip; rather, his concern is verifiable knowledge.” —al-Quds al-‘Arabi"A study of literary censorship and of the fight between artistic expression and religious and political authority in Egypt from the 1950s through today."—BULAQ“Outstanding” —al-Ahram“Shoair digs into the passion of how this iconic novel was written”—Donia Kamal, author of Cigarette Number Seven"Shoair’s meticulous, forensic account of the fierce controversies and confrontations provoked by the publication and censorship of Mahfouz’s notorious novel takes the reader on a page-turning journey through the labyrinth of postcolonial Egypt’s fraught and high-stakes cultural politics and offers nuanced critical insight into the author's work. A perfect marriage of literary and cultural history, and investigative journalism, and masterfully translated by Humphrey Davies, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding an entire era of modern Egyptian history and its place in contemporary global politics."—Samah Selim, Rutgers University

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Book SynopsisFind creative inspiration in this fascinating rummage through the wastebaskets, secret diaries, and abandoned files of 20 literary superstars.

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Book SynopsisFor Fans of the Tales of Tolkien, Middle-earth, and More Learn about the man who wrote The Lord of the Rings in this Middle-earth treasury. Full of answers to common questions asked by readers to learn about Middle-earth and the fandom, this book about Tolkien celebrates Why We Love Middle-earth. The Lord of the Rings omnibus for all. Who wrote The Lord of the Rings? What details are in the movies, books, maps, and other stories—and how do they tie together? Intrigued by Amazon’s new show The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power? What’s considered canon and what isn’t? Dive into Middle-earth’s expansive lore with Why We Love Middle-earth, a fandom book about Tolkien’s work.The perfect companion for any Middle-earth traveler. Written by beloved Tolkien commenters of The Prancing Pony Podcast, Shawn E. Marchese and Alan Sisto, Why We Love Middle-earth is the ultimate guide to the fandom. Newcomers and existing fans of Tolkien will revel in the dragon’s hoard of information inside.Inside, find: An easy-to-digest guide map that deepens your knowledge from start to finish, or from any interest point A brief history of each of the major books and adaptations of Middle-earth, how to read, watch, or play them, and deepen your understanding of them A manual for fandom niches—what they are, where to find them, and how to get started If you enjoy fandom books or a good book about Tolkien’s works such as Atlas Of Middle-Earth, Recipes from the World of Tolkien, or Why We Love Star Wars, you’ll love Why We Love Middle Earth.Trade Review“Written for new or casual fans, but with material to enlighten those deeply entrenched in Tolkien’s legendarium, Marchese and Sisto (hosts of the podcast Prancing Pony) share insights both scholarly (with ample footnotes) and irreverent (with chapter names like ‘Sequel, Schmequel’ and ‘Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes: Tolkien in Adaptation’). The book makes suggestions for the best Tolkien reading journey, enumerates high points and shortcomings of adaptations, and discusses collecting, moots (or conferences), and online fandoms. VERDICT A delightful addition to most libraries. Expect an uptick in circulation of other Tolkien-related books and DVDs after purchase.” —Library Journal “One could not ask for a more congenial pair of guides to Middle-earth than Alan Sisto and Shawn E. Marchese. The combination of learning and fun that has made The Prancing Pony Podcast such a delight shines through in this tour of the Middle-earth experience. Why We Love Middle-earth is a great resource for readers and film-viewers who are new to Tolkien and curious about all things Middle-earth.” —Corey Olsen, The Tolkien Professor and president of Signum University “Alan and Shawn bring the same love for Tolkien and the fandom to this book that they’ve brought to The Prancing Pony Podcast for years. I would expect nothing less, but I can also think of no higher praise.” —Matt Graf, Nerd of the Rings “This delightful read is accessible, humorous, and informative, with the appropriate dash of nostalgia. Perfect for both new and veteran Tolkien fans alike, it is sure to entertain, enlighten, and just maybe help you step out your front door and meet other members of the Tolkien community.” —K.M. Rice, author of the Afterworld series “An absolutely phenomenal read. Sisto and Marchese perfectly encapsulate the spirit of Tolkien’s legacy and bring it to the page. A heartfelt look at the passion found in the Professor’s stories and why Middle-earth remains such a beloved fantasy world. Tolkien fans of all ages will certainly want to add this book to their collections.” —Don Marshall, Obscure Lord of the Rings Facts Guy “You will not find a friendlier, more informative-yet-easygoing introduction to Tolkien’s world than this book. Alan and Shawn are like wisecracking Hobbits, simultaneously goofing off and admiring every song and story shared in Elrond’s Hall of Fire. Come for the groanworthy dad jokes; stay for the deep love of the lore.” —Jeff LaSala, author of The Silmarillion Primer “The Prancing Pony Podcast has established itself as an institution among those of us who like to live, breathe, and dream J.R.R. Tolkien’s magnificent Middle-earth legendarium. Approachable yet knowledgeable, fan-friendly yet scholarly, the PPP is one of those rare podcasts that successfully bridges the gap between the absolute Tolkien beginner and the serious devotee. This has clearly also been their intention with this book, and they have definitely succeeded in that aim. Why We Love Middle-earth is an entertaining read, but it also offers in-depth commentary on Tolkien’s works, the various film adaptations, and the fan responses to those works, guiding the novice through approaching the books as well as offering new insights for the serious reader. Maintaining the balance between the disparate audiences is no mean feat, but the result is a delightful and fascinating read that I would heartily recommend to all fans of Middle-earth.” —Dr. Sara Brown, language & literature department chair, Signum University “From erudition to entertainment, from comedy to camaraderie, The Prancing Pony Podcast is the Car Talk of Tolkien podcasts. Whether you are a Tolkien beginner or were there 300 episodes ago, Alan and Shawn are always worth listening to. Why We Love Middle-earth is a great introduction to Tolkien and the podcast. By treating the books, adaptations, and fandom individually, Alan and Shawn have once again proven themselves excellent guides for those wanting to enter Middle-earth. (Pre-order now and get a free Gollum GPS.)” —Thomas Hillman, author of Pity, Power, and Tolkien’s Ring: To Rule the Fate of ManyTable of ContentsForeword Prologue: Who Was John Ronald Reuel Tolkien? Part One: Discovering Tolkien’s Books: What Should I Read Next? The Hobbit The Lord of the Rings The Silmarillion Unfinished Tales The “Great Tales”: The Children of Húrin, Beren & Lúthien, The Fall of Gondolin Part Two: Tolkien in Adaptation Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit Trilogy Ralph Bakshi’s The Lord of the Rings Rankin/Bass’s The Hobbit and The Return of the King BBC Radio Play Video Game Adaptations: The Lord of the Rings Online and many more Audiobooks Part Three: Expressions of Fandom Collecting Tolkien Tolkien’s Invented Languages Tolkien Studies Art and Artists Fan Organizations Online Content DIY (cosplay, crafting, cooking, brewing)

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Book SynopsisBestselling historian Robert Lacey brings together 82 of our most beloved nursery rhymes in this collection inspired by the original drawings of Claud Lovat Fraser, vividly updated by artist Ben Coppin. Robert writes on the magic of nursery rhymes, the meaning of their not-so-childish nonsense and the history behind them.

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Book Synopsis'Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.' The prophetic words of Galadriel, addressed to Frodo as he prepared to travel from Lothlorien to Mordor to destroy the One Ring, are just as pertinent to J R R Tolkien's own fiction. For decades, hobbits and the other fantastical creatures of Middle-earth have captured the imaginations of a fiercely loyal tribe of readers, all enhanced by the immense success of Peter Jackson's films: first 'The Lord of the Rings', and now his new 'The Hobbit'. But for all Tolkien's global fame and the familiarity of modern culture with Gandalf, Bilbo, Frodo and Sam, the sources of the great mythmaker's own myth-making have been neglected. Mark Atherton here explores the chief influences on Tolkien's work: his boyhood in the West Midlands; the landscapes and seascapes which shaped his mythologies; his experiences in World War I; his interest in Scandinavian myth; his friendships, especially with the other Oxford-based Inklings; and the relevance of his themes, especially ecological themes, to the present-day. There and Back Again offers a unique guide to the varied inspirations behind Tolkien's life and work, and sheds new light on how a legend is born.Trade Review"When J R R Tolkien died in 1973, his friend and academic colleague C S Lewis praised his 'unique insight at once into the language of poetry and into the poetry of language'. Generations of readers have responded to the power, precision, and delicacy of J R R Tolkien's linguistic imagination. This absorbing new study of The Hobbit brings a philologist's eye to that work's creation, structure, and expression, positioning it within the broader development of Tolkien's professional thinking about philology and the evolving mythography of his creative writings. Mark Atherton, himself what Tolkien calls 'a scholar of gramarye', imaginatively shows how Tolkien's academic interests in philology, linguistic-aesthetic and in reconstructive philology spilled over into the crucible of his own mythography, and was catalysed by the alchemy of his own reading in myths and contemporary fairy stories by writers such as William Morris, Edward Thomas, Francis Thompson and Robert Graves. This book gives them new ways of appreciating the interplay between his narratives and the linguistic enchantment of their imaginative world. Atherton's insights bring to mind Tolkien's own comment: 'How those old words smite one out of the dark antiquity!' " Vincent Gillespie, J R R Tolkien Professor of English Literature and Language, University of Oxford 'Mark Atherton's treatment of one of the most famous books of the twentieth century is timely and welcome. On the face of it, The Hobbit appears an engaging fantasy adventure for young readers; but, as it later transpired, Mr Bilbo Baggins' exploits "there and back again" were simply a prelude to the apocalyptic drama that was to unfold in The Lord the Rings. One reason for the enduring appeal of both of these works is that J R R Tolkien imbued his tales of a fictional realm with resonances of ancient themes and universal truths. In this detailed exploration, Mark Atherton provides the reader with a comprehensive understanding of the many origins, influences and inspirations - biographical, historical, geographical and literary - that, combined with a unique imagination, resulted in the crafting of a new mythology.' Brian Sibley, author of The "Lord of the Rings: The Making of the Movie Trilogy" and of "Peter Jackson: A Film-maker's Journey"" "There and Back Again" is essential reading for all Tolkien fans - and also for anyone interested more broadly in medievalism, or the ways in which later writers have responded to the culture of the Middle Ages. Mark Atherton is that ideal combination: a reader and critic deeply appreciative of Tolkien's literary artistry, his imaginative scope and his linguistic invention, who is also, like Tolkien himself, a distinguished scholar of medieval language and literature. In this highly readable and accessible study, Atherton brings his own scholarship to bear on Tolkien's sources for The Hobbit, and in the process illuminates the whole of Tolkien's remarkable oeuvre." Heather O'Donoghue, Vigfusson Rausing Reader in Ancient Icelandic Literature & Antiquities, University of OxfordTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Abbreviations Acknowledgements Part One : Shaping the plot Part Two : Making the mythology Part Three: Finding the Words Epilogue Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIdeas in Profile: Small Introductions to Big Topics At the heart of criticism lies one question: What do you think of it? Every time we comment on an artefact, whether a poem, a play, a painting, a novel or a piano concerto, we are acting as critics, making our own judgements and interpretations. Among the most fundamental of human intellectual activities, criticism offers a starting point for many of our journeys towards understanding. Focusing particularly on stories, plays and poems, Criticism traces the central concepts and controversies in criticism, from Plato to Derrida, and from Romanticism to the death of the author. In the process, it reflects on criticism itself, the possibilities and options that confront casual readers, as well as reviewers, members of reading groups, students and teachers of English. How far do we make conscious choices about how and what we read (or view)? What do we conventionally look for in fiction? And what might we look for if we went beyond the conventional?

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Book Synopsis*Longlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize*In late eighteenth-century London, a group of extraordinary people gathered around a dining table once a week.The host was Joseph Johnson, publisher and bookseller and he was joined at dinner by a shifting constellation of great minds including William Blake, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth, Henry Fuseli, Anna Barbauld and Mary Wollstonecraft.Johnson's years as a maker of books saw profound change in Britain and abroad. In this remarkable portrait of a revolutionary age, Daisy Hay captures a changing nation through the stories of the men and women who wrote it into being, and whose ideas still influence us today.'Rich in period and personal detail' Guardian'Hugely engrossing' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewHay's meticulously researched biography, rich in period and personal detail, sheds light on both Johnson and the vibrant cultural world he inhabited -- Hannah Beckerman * Guardian *[A] compelling and magnificent study... Dinner with Joseph Johnson is an admirable achievement of biography and humanistic imagination -- Katheryn Sunderland * Times Literary Supplement *Dinner with Joseph Johnson sheds much-needed light on a key figure in both the ideological and material context of the 18th century... Hay's meticulous research brings this "paper age" to life... Evokes the noise and excitement of an age characterised by the unceasing hum of literary debate... a fitting reflection of the period that Hay describes: a time when the written word could make someone's name - or cost them their liberty * Financial Times *This delightful book by the English literature professor Daisy Hay gives the reader the feeling of being at a rather elevated party... Johnson's guests talked, wrote and painted about democracy, human rights, atheism, feminism, anatomy, chemistry and electricity. While dreaming of a better future, they befriended each other, loved each other and criticised each other... shaped an era... Johnson was a brilliant talent spotter and supported the best minds of his day -- Emma Duncan * The Times *A portrait of literary ferment... Daisy Hay's compendious and impressive survey illuminates the contribution to these significant ideological shifts of the ill-assorted men and women whose kinship was marked by their shared participation in Joseph Johnson's hospitality * Daily Telegraph *

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