ELT & Literary Studies Books
Harvard University Press Republic Volume II Books 610
Book SynopsisThe great Athenian philosopher Plato was born in 427 BC and lived to be eighty. Acknowledged masterpieces among his works are the Symposium, which explores love in its many aspects, from physical desire to pursuit of the beautiful and the good, and the Republic, which concerns righteousness and also treats education, gender, society, and slavery.
£23.70
Batsford A Jane Austen Year
Book Synopsis This beautifully illustrated book charts the life of one of the world's most beloved authors, through the objects that surrounded her, the personal letters and manuscripts that she created, and the events that shaped her life and understanding. It is published in partnership with the curators of Jane Austen's House, the enchanting Hampshire cottage where her genius flourished that now attracts thousands of visitors every year. Arranged over the course of a calendar year, from snowy scenes in January to festive recipes in December, specially commissioned photography of Austen's home and possessions are brought together with extracts from her books, reproductions of her letters, and stories of her life throughout the seasons. Highlights include affectionate letters to her sister Cassandra reproduced in full, the story of the publication of the first edition of Pride and Prejudice, and an exquisite miniature portrait of Tom Lefroy, the man she nearly married. Read this book for a unique and intimate insight into Jane Austen's world. Dip into it as you will, or visit each month, and enjoy a full year of Austen her life, works and letters, people and objects she knew, and of course her idyllic, inspiring home.
£26.21
HarperCollins Publishers The Art of Rhetoric
Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics?Despite dating from the 4th century BC, The Art of Rhetoric continues to be regarded by many as the single most important work on the art of persuasion. As democracy began emerging in 5th-century Athens, public speaking and debate became an increasingly important tool to garner influence in the assemblies, councils, and law courts of ancient Greece. In response to this, both politicians and ordinary citizens became desperate to learn greater skills in this area, as well as the philosophy behind it. This treatise was one of the first to provide just that, establishing methods and observations of informal reasoning and style, and has continued to be hugely influential on public speaking and philosophy today.Aristotle, the grandfather of philosophy, student of Plato, and teacher of Alexander the Great, was one of the first people to create a comprehensive system of philosophy, encompassing logic, morality, aesthetics, politics, ethics, and science. Although written over 2,000 years ago, The Art of Rhetoric remains a comprehensive introduction for philosophy students into the subject of rhetoric, as well as a useful manual for anyone today looking to improve their oratory skills of persuasion.
£5.62
HarperCollins Publishers Julius Caesar
Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.Power, corruption and betrayal are at the heart of Shakespeare's most well-known historical and political drama. As Julius Caesar moves closer to securing power for himself and is perceived by some as a threat to Roman citizens, his senators plot to bring about his downfall. Caesar's assassination leads to civil war rather than peace and the play explores the subsequent deaths of the conspirators Brutus and Cassius.Shakespeare's contemporaries would have spotted the playwright's attempts to use the shift from republican to imperial Rome to highlight the political situation of the Elizabethans at the time. Featuring some of the most powerfully resonant and rousing speeches of any of Shakespeare's plays, Julius Caesar remains one of his most well-loved historical tragedies.
£5.68
Oxford University Press Zofloya
Book SynopsisThis is the first edition for nearly 200 years of an unduly neglected work, originally published in 1806, by an intriguing and unconventional woman writer. A Gothic tale of lust, betrayal, and multiple murder set in fifteenth-century Venice, the novel's most daring aspect is its anatomy of the central character, Victoria's, intense sexual attraction to her Moorish servant Zofloya. A minor scandal on its first publication, and a significant influence on Byron andShelley, it contradicts idealized stereotypes in women's writing and challenges the received idea of the Gothic genre's representation of passive, victimized women.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Note on the Text; Select Bibliography; A Chronology of Charlotte Dacre; Engraving of Charlotte Dacre as Rosa Matilda; ZOFLOYA, OR THE MOOR; Appendix; A Note on Names; Explanatory Notes
£8.99
Oxford University Press The Nun
Book Synopsis''You can leave a forest, but you can never leave a cloister; you are free in the forest, but you are a slave in the cloister.''Diderot''s The Nun (La Religieuse) is the seemingly true story of a young girl forced by her parents to enter a convent and take holy orders. A novel mingling mysticism, madness, sadistic cruelty and nascent sexuality, it gives a scathing insight into the effects of forced vocations and the unnatural life of the convent. A succès de scandale at the end of the eighteenth century, it has attracted and unsettled readers ever since. For Diderot''s novel is not simply a story of a young girl with a bad habit; it is also a powerfully emblematic fable about oppression and intolerance.This new translation includes Diderot''s all-important prefatory material, which he placed, disconcertingly, at the end of the novel, and which turns what otherwise seems like an exercise in realism into what is now regarded as a masterpiece of proto-modernist fiction. ABOUT THE SERIES: Trade ReviewRussell Goulbourne's wide-ranging introduction shows clearly how the work's past significance and it present meaning are linked: Goulbourne's excellent translation maintains the reader's involvement without sacrificing accuracy. * Times Literary Supplement *
£11.69
Oxford University Press Defence Speeches
Book Synopsis''But I must stop now. I can no longer speak for tears - and my client has ordered that tears are not to be used in his defence.''Cicero (106-43 BC) was the greatest orator of the ancient world: he dominated the Roman courts, usually appearing for the defence. His speeches are masterpieces of persuasion: compellingly written, emotionally powerful, and somtimes hilariously funny. This book presents five of his most famous defences: of Roscius, falsely accused of murdering his father; of the consul-elect Murena, accused of electoral bribery; of the poet Archias, on a citizenshiup charge; of Caelius, ex-lover of Clodia Metelli, on charges of violence; and of Milo, for mudering Cicero''s hated enemy Clodius. Cicero''s clients were rarely whiter-than-white; but so seductive is his oratory that the reader cannot help taking his side. In these speeches we are plunged into some of the most exciting courtroom dramas of all time.These new translations preserve Cicero''s literary artistry and emotional force, and achieve new standards of accuracy. Each speech has its own introduction, and a general introduction discusses Cicero''s public career and the criminal courts. The substantial explanatory notes guide the reader through the speeches, and offer new scholarship presented in a clear way.
£10.44
Oxford University Press The Count of Monte Cristo
Book SynopsisThe young sailor Edmond Dantès is arrested on his wedding day and imprisoned in the island fortress of the Château d'If. His daring escape, recovery of Monte Cristo's fabulous treasure, and revenge on his enemies make this one of the great thrillers of all time. This is a newly revised, unabridged translation.
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Nicomachean Ethics
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Penguin Publishing Group The Divine Comedy
Book SynopsisThe authoritative translations of The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and The Paradiso—together in one volume.Belonging in the immortal company of the great works of literature, Dante Alighieri’s poetic masterpiece, The Divine Comedy, is a moving human drama, an unforgettable visionary journey through the infinite torment of Hell, up the arduous slopes of Purgatory, and on to the glorious realm of Paradise—the sphere of universal harmony and eternal salvation.Now, for the first time, John Ciardi’s brilliant and authoritative translations of Dante’s three soaring canticles—The Inferno, The Purgatorio, and The Paradiso—have been gathered together in a single volume. Crystallizing the power and beauty inherent in the great poet’s immortal conception of the aspiring soul, The Divine Comedy is a dazzling work of sublime truth and mystical intensity.
£18.70
Oxford University Press The Tain
Book Synopsis"The T 'ain B 'o Cuailnge", centre-piece of the 8th century Ulster cycle of heroic tales, is Ireland's greatest epic. This translation is based on the partial texts in two medieval manuscripts, with elements from other versions, and adds a group of related stories which prepare for the T 'ain.Table of ContentsTranslator's Note and Acknowledgements ; Artist's Note ; Introduction ; Maps ; Some Recommended Books ; Pronunciation of Irish Words ; Before the Tain ; The Tain ; Notes on the Text
£11.39
HarperCollins Publishers The Shaping of Middleearth The History of
Book SynopsisThe fourth volume that contains the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien's epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.In this fourth volume of The History of Middle-earth, the shaping of the chronological and geographical structure of the legends of Middle-earth and Valinor is spread before us.We are introduced to the hitherto unknown Ambarkanta or Shape of the World, the only account ever given of the nature of the imagined Universe, ccompanied by maps and diagrams of the world before and after the cataclyusms of The War of the Gods and the Downfall of Numenor. The first map of Beleriend is also reproduced and discussed.In The Annals of Valinor and The Annals of Beleriend we are shown how the chronology of the First Age was moulded: and the tale is told of Aelfwine, the Englishman who voyaged into the True West and came to Tol Eressea, Lonely Isle, where he learned the ancient history of Elves and Men.Also included are the original Silmarillion' of 1926, and the Quenta Trade Review‘Illustrates the development, depth and richness of J R R Tolkien’s personal mythology’ Vector
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers The Lost Road and Other Writings Book 5 The
Book SynopsisThe fifth volume of the History of Middle-earth, containing the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien's epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.At the end of 1937, J R R Tolkien reluctantly set aside his work on the myths and heroic legends of Valinor and Middle-earth and began The Lord of the Rings.This fifth volume of The History of Middle-earth completes the examination of his writing up to that time. Later forms of The Annals of Valinor and The Annals of Beleriand had been composed, The Silmarillion was nearing completion in a greatly amplified form, and a new Map had been made. The legend of the Downfall of Numenor had entered the work, including those central ideas: the World Made Round and the Straight Path into the vanished West. Closely associated with this was the abandoned time-travel' story The Lost Road, linking the world of Numenor and Middle-earth with the legends of many other times and peoples.Also included in this volume is the The Lhammas, as essay oTrade Review‘Christopher Tolkien shows himself to be his father’s son… Tolkien devotees will rejoice’ The New York Times Book Review
£10.44
Oxford University Press Ivanhoe
Book SynopsisMore than a century after the Norman Conquest, England remains a colony of foreign warlords. The dissolute Prince John plots to seize his brother''s crown, his barons terrorize the country, and the mysterious outlaw Robin Hood haunts the ancient greenwood. The secret return of King Richard and the disinherited Saxon knight, Ivanhoe, heralds the start of a splendid and tumultuous romance, featuring the tournament at Ashby-de-la-Zouche, the siege of Torquilstone, and the clash of wills between the wicked Templar Bois-Guilbert and the sublime Jewess Rebecca. In Ivanhoe Scott fashioned an imperial myth of national cultural identity that has shaped the popular imagination ever since its first appearance at the end of 1819. The most famous of Scottish novelists drew on the conventions of Gothic fiction, including its risky sexual and racial themes, to explore the violent origins and limits of English nationality. This edition uses the 1830 Magnum Opus text, corrected against the Interlea
£9.49
Oxford University Press Sir Gawain and The Green Knight
Book Synopsis''The finest translation in and for our time'' (Kevin Crossley-Holland) Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, with its intricate plot of enchantment and betrayal is probably the most skilfully told story in the whole of the English Arthurian cycle. Originating from the north-west midlands of England, it is based on two separate and very ancient Celtic motifs of the Beheading and the Exchange of Winnings, brought together by the anonymous 14th century poet. His telling comprehends a great variety of moods and modes - from the stark realism of the hunt-scenes to the delicious and dangerous bedroom encounters between Lady Bercilak and Gawain, from moments of pure lyric beauty when he evokes the English countryside in all its seasons, to authorial asides that are full of irony and puckish humour. This new verse translation uses a modern alliterative pattern which subtly echoes the music of the original at the same time as it strives for fidelity. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford WorlTrade ReviewThe Oxford World's Classics edition offers students an excellent introduction to this classic text and also important notes and chronologies.
£7.99
Oxford University Press Phaedo
Book SynopsisThe Phaedo is acknowledged to be one of Plato''s greatest masterpieces, showing him both as a philosopher and as a dramatist at the height of his powers. For its moving account of the execution of Socrates, the Phaedo ranks among the supreme literary achievements of antiquity. It is also a seminal document for many ideas deeply ingrained in western culture, and provides one of the best introductions to Plato''s thought. This new edition is a revised version of the Clarendon Press translation, and is eminently suitable for readers new to Plato, and ideal for classroom use, thanks to the provision of Stephanus page and letter numbering. 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 clariTrade ReviewThe new translation is freer in some places making it more accessible to those encountering Plato for the first time. An essential book for those who desire an introduction to Platonic philosophy. * The Greek Gazette *
£8.20
Oxford University Press The Riverside Chaucer Reissued with a new
Book SynopsisThe third edition of the definitive collection of Chaucer''s Complete Works, reissued with a new foreword by Christopher Cannon.Since F. N. Robinson''s second edition of the The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer was published in 1957, there has been a dramatic increase in Chaucer scholarship. This has not only enriched our understanding of Chaucer''s art, but has also enabled scholars, working for the first time with all the source-material, to recreate Chaucer''s authentic texts.For the third edition, an international team of experts completely re-edited all the works, added glosses to appear on the page with the text, and greatly expanded the introductory material, explanatory notes, textual notes, bibliography, and glossary.In short, the Riverside Chaucer is the fruit of many years'' study - the most authentic and exciting edition available of Chaucer''s Complete Works.Trade Reviewoffers a much-needed shot in the arm to Chaucer studies in colleges and universities * Modern Language Review *indispensable for scholars and beginners alike ... Professor Larry D Benson ... deserves a medal both for organizing a formidable team of American and British scholars and for the excellence of his own contributions. * IBooks *an enormous advance on its predecessor ... particularly in its informative introductory materials, glossary ... and the addition of explanatary notes ot the foot of each page. At well over 1,300 pages, it must be a bargain. * Country Life *This is a comprehensive, readable ... and up-to-date edition of the first major English poet ... the Riverside editors have served their poet handsomely. The new texts are improvements on which reveal just how brilliant an editor Robinson was, despite his limited access to the manuscripts.' * The Guardian *The Riverside Chaucer . . . is beautiful to look at and a sensuous delight to handle. Within its stout covers the entire works of the father of English literature are displayed in fine clear type with very adequate footnote glossaries. The linguistic, historical and literary scholarship are a masterpiece of Anglo-American collaboration. The reading of Chaucer is made into an exquisite pleasure, not a philological chore. This is the best edition of Chaucer in existence. * Anthony Burgess *It is a sheer pleasure to read. * Good Book Guide *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; THE CANTERBURY TALES; THE BOOK OF THE DUCHESS; THE HOUSE OF FAME; ANELIDA AND ARCITE; THE PARLIAMENT OF FOWLS; BOECE; THE LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN; THE SHORT POEMS; A TREATISE ON THE ASTROLABE; THE ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE; APPENDIX
£29.99
Penguin Books Ltd The Odyssey
Book SynopsisConfronted by natural and supernatural threats - shipwrecks, battles, monsters and the implacable enmity of the sea-god Poseidon - Odysseus must use his wit and native cunning if he is to reach his homeland safely and overcome the obstacles that, even there, await him.Trade Review“[Robert Fitzgerald’s translation is] a masterpiece . . . An Odyssey worthy of the original.” –The Nation “[Fitzgerald’s Odyssey and Iliad] open up once more the unique greatness of Homer’s art at the level above the formula; yet at the same time they do not neglect the brilliant texture of Homeric verse at the level of the line and the phrase.” –The Yale Review “[In] Robert Fitzgerald’s translation . . . there is no anxious straining after mighty effects, but rather a constant readiness for what the occasion demands, a kind of Odyssean adequacy to the task in hand, and this line-by-line vigilance builds up into a completely credible imagined world.” –from the Introduction by Seamus Heaney
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Electra and Other Plays Women of Trachis Ajax
Book SynopsisFour seminal tragedies by the master Greek dramatist, in sparkling new translationsOf the more than one hundred plays Sophocles wrote over the course of his long life, only seven survive. This volume collects four of them, all newly translated. Electra portrays the grief of a young woman for her father, Agamemnon, who has been killed by her mother's lover. Ajax depicts the enigma of power and weakness vis-àvis the fall of the great hero. Women of Trachis dramatizes the tragic love and error of Heracles's deserted wife, Deianeira; Philoctetes examines the conflict between physical force and moral strength.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 en
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Lady Audleys Secret
Book SynopsisWeathering critical scorn, Lady Audley''s Secret quickly established Mary Elizabeth Braddon as the leading light of Victorian ''sensation'' fiction, sharing the honour only with Wilkie Collins. Addictive, cunningly plotted and certainly sensational, Lady Audley''s Secret draws on contemporary theories of insanity to probe mid-Victorian anxieties about the rapid rise of consumer culture. What is the mystery surrounding the charming heroine? Lady Audley''s secret is investigated by Robert Audley, aristocrat turned detective, in a novel that has lost none of its power to disturb and entertain.
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Three Theban Plays Antigone Oedipus the King
Book SynopsisThe heroic Greek dramas that have moved theatergoers and readers since the fifth century B.C.Towering over the rest of Greek tragedy, the three plays that tell the story of the fated Theban royal family—Antigone, Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus—are among the most enduring and timeless dramas ever written. Robert Fagles's authoritative and acclaimed translation conveys all of Sophocles's lucidity and power: the cut and thrust of his dialogue, his ironic edge, the surge and majesty of his choruses and, above all, the agonies and triumphs of his characters. This Penguin Classics edition features an introduction and notes by the renowned classicist Bernard Knox.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 dTrade Review“I know of no better modern English version.”—Sir Hugh Lloyd-Jones, Oxford University “A marvel of craftsmanship and intelligence.”—Emily Vermeule, Harvard University “The most impressive verse translations of Sophocles that have been made.”—Stephen SpenderTable of ContentsThe Three Theban Plays - Sophocles Translated by Robert Fagles with Introductions and Notes by Bernard KnoxAcknowledgmentsTranslator's PrefaceGreece and the TheaterSOPHOCLES: THE THREE THEBAN PLAYSIntroduction to AntigoneAntigoneIntroduction to Oedipus the KingOedipus the KingIntroduction to Oedipus at ColonusOedipus at ColonusA Note on the Text of SophoclesTextual VariantsNotes on the Translation: Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at ColonusSelect BibliographyThe Genealogy of OedipusGlossary
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd On the Good Life Penguin Classics
Book SynopsisFor the great Roman orator and statesman Cicero, 'the good life' was at once a life of contentment and one of moral virtue - and the two were inescapably intertwined. This volume brings together a wide range of his reflections upon the importance of moral integrity in the search for happiness. In essays that are articulate, meditative and inspirational, Cicero presents his views upon the significance of friendship and duty to state and family, and outlines a clear system of practical ethics that is at once simple and universal. These works offer a timeless reflection upon the human condition, and a fascinating insight into the mind of one of the greatest thinkers of Ancient Rome.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 provideTable of ContentsIntroductionList of Greek and Latin Terms1. Discussions at Tusculum (V)2. On Duties (II)3. Laelius: On Friendship4. On the Orator (I)5. The Dream of ScipioAppendicesI. The Philosophical Works of CiceroII. The Rhetorical Works of CiceroIII. Principal DatesIV. Some Books about CiceroGenealogical TablesMapsIndex
£11.69
Faber & Faber 1599 A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare
Book SynopsisWinner of the Baillie Gifford Prize and the Baillie Gifford ''Winner of Winners'' award in 2023How did Shakespeare go from being a talented poet and playwright to become one of the greatest writers who ever lived? In this one exhilarating year we follow what he reads and writes, what he saw and who he worked with as he invests in the new Globe theatre and creates four of his most famous plays - Henry V, Julius Caesar, As You Like It, and, most remarkably, Hamlet.This book brings the news, intrigue and flavour of the times together with wonderful detail about how Shakespeare worked as an actor, businessman and playwright, to create an exceptionally immediate and gripping account of an inspiring moment in history.A brilliant study, which carefully unpacks a single year in Shakespeare''s life ... The audacious focus on just one year pays off magnificently.' Sunday TimesA far richer, more intimate portrait of our greatest author than you''re likely to find in any cradle-to-grave biography.' Daily MailGripping and illuminating.' TelegraphA fascinating and entirely believable portrait of a talented workaholic ... Shapiro''s informed enthusiasm and energetic prose is addictive.'' GuardianTrade Review"'One of the few genuinely original biographies of Shakespeare.' Jonathan Bate, Sunday Telegraph"
£13.49
Harvard University Press Apollonius Rhodius Argonautica Trans. Race Greek
Book SynopsisApollonius Rhodius's Argonautica, composed in the third century BC, is the Greek epic account of Jason’s quest for the golden fleece. It greatly influenced Roman authors such as Catullus, Virgil, and Ovid, and was imitated by Valerius Flaccus.
£23.70
Harvard University Press Greek Epic Fragments
Book SynopsisHeroic epic of the eighth to the fifth century BCE includes poems about Hercules and Theseus, as well as the Theban Cycle and the Trojan Cycle. Genealogical epic of that archaic era includes poems that create prehistories for Corinth and Samos. These works are an important source of mythological record.Trade ReviewA magnificent achievement...As one would expect of a scholar of West's distinction these are accurate, keenly alive to each nuance of the Greek...Scholars owe a considerable debt of gratitude to West for [this] new Loeb. -- Richard Whitaker * Scholia Reviews *
£23.70
Inner City Books The Cat
Book Synopsis
£13.60
Spark Much Ado About Nothing
Book SynopsisNo Fear Shakespeare gives you the complete text of Much Ado About Nothing on the left-hand page, side-by-side with an easy-to-understand translation on the right.
£7.59
Union Square & Co. The Making of Middleearth
Book SynopsisThis volume is perhaps the most in-depth exploration ever undertaken of Tolkien's world. Accessible but authoritative, and fully illustrated, it is now being reissued with a stunning new cover treatment and updated commentary on new books, films, games, and shows. This book, originally published in 2013 and richly illustrated with photographs and artwork , was the first to connect all the threads of influence on Tolkien that infused his creation of Middle-earth—from the languages, poetry, and mythology of medieval Europe and ancient Greece and Rome to the halls of Oxford and the battlefields of World War I. Snyder examines the impact of these works on our modern culture, from 1960s counterculture to fantasy publishing, gaming, music, and beyond. The reissue has a gorgeous, updated cover design with a custom illustration on foil-stamped faux cloth and additional pages of material covering new developments.
£21.25
Oxford University Press Twenty Years After
Book SynopsisTwenty Years After (1845), the sequel to The Three Musketeers, is a supreme creation of suspense and heroic adventure.Two decades have passed since the musketeers triumphed over Cardinal Richelieu and Milady. Time has weakened their resolve, and dispersed their loyalties. But treasons and strategems still cry out for justice: civil war endangers the throne of France, while in England Cromwell threatens to send Charles I to the scaffold. Dumas brings his immortal quartet out of retirement to cross swords with time, the malevolence of men, and the forces of history. But their greatest test is a titanic struggle with the son of Milady, who wears the face of Evil.In his Introduction to this edition David Coward sets both the author and his exciting tale in their historical and cultural contexts. 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 Review'All good fun.' Sunday Telegraph
£10.44
Oxford University Press South Sea Tales
Book SynopsisTrade Reviewa real treasure. ... RLS at his most serious and playful. * Daily Telegraph Arts and Books section, 19 July 1997 *Table of ContentsThe Beach of Falesa; The Bottle Imp; The Isle of Voices; The Ebb-Tide; A Trio and Quartette; The Cart-Horses and the Saddle-Horse; Something In It.
£9.49
Vintage Publishing The Art of Fiction
Book SynopsisIn this entertaining and enlightening collection David Lodge considers the art of fiction under a wide range of headings, drawing on writers as diverse as Henry James, Martin Amis, Jane Austen and James Joyce.Trade ReviewExciting...a book for starting up trains of thought or discussion... It did make me think, as a writer, as a reader, as a teacher -- AS Byatt * Sunday Times *Here is scholarship made human... There has been no better populist study of fiction since Forster's Aspects of the Novel * Financial Times *It is wonderful to be clued in to some of the magic tricks of the trade; the point of view, the stream of consciousness, the use of names, the sense of place, time-shift and intertextuality * Los Angeles Times *Lodge has the knack of wearing his scholarship lightly... One finds here precisely that expansive, humane wisdom which is so sorely lacking in much narrow-minded modern criticism.... He gets to the bottom of things, telling us why we read fiction....admirers will find in The Art of Fiction concentrated essence of Lodge * Guardian *These essays are as fresh and as readable as ever -- David Evans * Independent *
£10.44
Oxford University Press The Complete Fairy Tales
Book Synopsis''Oh grandmama, what great big teeth you have!''Charles Perrault''s versions gave classic status to the humble fairy tale, and it is in his telling that the stories of Little Red Riding-Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and the rest have been passed down from the seventeenth century to the present day. Perrault''s tales were enjoyed in the salons of Louis XIV as much as they were loved in the nursery, and it is their wit, humour, and lively detail that capture the imagination of adult and child alike. They transmute into vivid fantasies the hidden fears and conflicts by which children are affected: fears of abandonment, or worse, conflicts with siblings and parents, and the trials of growing up. In addition to the familiar stories, this edition also includes the three verse tales - the troubling account of patient Griselda, the comic Three Silly Wishes, and the notorious Donkey-Skin. This new translation by Christopher Betts captures the tone and flavour of Perrault''s world, and the dTrade ReviewBett's new edition positions Perrault in relation to the many other tales in circulation before and after, offering helpful comparisions. * Margaret ReynoldsThe Times *Bett's new translation of the tales is subtle and clever. * Margaret Reynolds, The Times *Table of ContentsThe History of Griselda ; Three Silly Wishes ; Donkey-Skin ; The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood ; Little Red Riding-Hood ; Bluebeard ; Puss in Boots ; The Fairies ; Cinderella ; Ricky the Tuft ; Hop o'my Thumb
£9.49
Columbia University Press Antigones Claim
Book SynopsisAntigone, the insurgent from Sophocles's Oedipus, has long been a feminist icon of defiance. This book redefines Antigone's legacy, recovering her significance and liberating it for a progressive feminism and sexual politics. It reconceptualizes the incest taboo in relation to kinship - and open up the concept of kinship to cultural change.Trade ReviewButler is interested in Antigone as a liminal figure between the family and the state, between life and death... but also as a figure, like all her kin, who represents the non-normative family, a set of kinship relations that seems to defy the standard model... one senses in Butler's interest... homage to those who have lived, or have tried to live, and to those who have died 'on the sexual margins.' -- Georgette Fleischer The Nation Antigone's Claim is a work of intricate and detailed analysis of enormously difficult material. Butler masterfully leads us to... a newfound theoretical activism within the political domain. -- Maria Cimitile Hypatia Brief but powerful and provocative nook. -- Shireen R. K. Patell, New York University Signs Thought-provoking and politically provocative... Bulter joins the great philosophical tradition which grapples with the ancient tragedy of Sophocles. -- Ido Geiger Hagar: Studies in Culture Polity IdentitiesTable of ContentsAntigone's Claim Unwritten Laws, Aberrant Transmissions Promiscuous Obedience
£19.80
Penguin Books Ltd Timaeus and Critias Penguin Classics
Book SynopsisTimaeus and Critias is a Socratic dialogue in two parts. A response to an account of an ideal state told by Socrates, it begins with Timaeus’s theoretical exposition of the cosmos and his story describing the creation of the universe, from its very beginning to the coming of man. Timaeus introduces the idea of a creator God and speculates on the structure and composition of the physical world. Critias, the second part of Plato’s dialogue, comprises an account of the rise and fall of Atlantis, an ancient, mighty and prosperous empire ruled by the descendents of Poseidon, which ultimately sank into the sea.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 not
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers The Beautiful and Damned F. Scott Fitzgerald
Book SynopsisFrom Collins Classics and the author of The Great Gatsby' comes this razor-sharp satire on the excesses of the Jazz Age.From the author of The Great Gatsby, a tale of marriage and disappointment in the Roaring Twenties.Fitzgerald's rich and detailed novel of the decadent Jazz Era follows the beautiful and vibrant Anthony Patch and his wife Gloria as they navigate the heady lifestyle of the young and wealthy in 1920s New York. Patch is the presumptive heir to his grandfather's fortune, and keeps his equally spoiled wife in comfort while biding time until his grandfather's death. Patch is unable to hold down any kind of job and spends his days in luxury, indulging in whatever pleasures are available. But as the money begins to fail, so does their marriage. Patch's gradual descent into alcoholism, depression and alienation from his marriage ultimately lead to his ruin. Fitzgerald's novel is a remorseless exploration of the horrors of an age of excess and lost innocence.F. Scott Fitzgerald
£5.68
HarperCollins Publishers Hamlet
Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.
£5.62
HarperCollins Publishers The Tempest Paperback
Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.We are such stuffAs dreams are made on; and our little lifeIs rounded with a sleep.'Magical and dreamlike in its tone, Shakespeare's The Tempest begins with a storm of epic proportions and a shipwreck. Banished from Italy, Prospero lives on a remote island with his daughter. Using his magic, he vows to seek revenge on the injustice dealt to him by his brother, but in doing so, Shakespeare questions the difficulty of distinguishing men' from monsters', and the realities of justice.
£5.68
Penguin Putnam Inc East of Eden
Book SynopsisThe biblical account of Cain and Abel is echoed in the history of two generations of the Trask family in California.
£16.15
Cambridge University Press Othello
Book SynopsisThis third edition of Othello features a completely new, illustrated introduction, together with an updated commentary, notes and a revised reading list, providing students with a deep and up-to-date resource.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Note on the text; List of characters; The play; Supplementary notes; Textual analysis; Reading list.
£12.85
Random House USA Inc Mansfield Park Bantam Classics
Book SynopsisIn Mansfield Park, first published in 1814, when the author had reached her full maturity as a novelist, Jane Austen paints some of her most witty and perceptive studies of character. Against a genteel country landscape of formal parks and stately homes, the gossipy Mrs. Norris becomes a masterful comic creation; the fickle young suitor Henry Crawford provides an unequaled portrait of an unscrupulous young man; and the complexly drawn Fanny Price emerges as one of Jane Austen’s finest achievements—the poor cousin who comes to stay with her wealthy relatives at Mansfield Park and learns how the game of love can too easily turn to folly. More intricately plotted and wider in scope than Austen’s earlier works, Mansfield Park continues to enchant and delight us as a superb example of a great author’s craft.
£7.52
Faber & Faber Selected Poems
Book SynopsisReflects the wealth of forms, the rhetorical and tonal range, and the variousness of content in Auden's poetry. This volume also includes examples of Auden's mastery of light verse: the self-descriptive sequence of haiku called 'Profiles', the barbed wartime quatrains of 'Leap Before You Look', or 'Funeral Blues' itself.
£15.29
Faber & Faber Translations
Book SynopsisThe action takes place in late August 1833 at a hedge-school in the townland of Baile Beag, an Irish-speaking community in County Donegal. In a nearby field camps a recently arrived detachment of the Royal Engineers, making the first Ordnance Survey. For the purposes of cartography, the local Gaelic place names have to be recorded and rendered into English. In examining the effects of this operation on the lives of a small group, Brian Friel skilfully reveals the far-reaching personal and cultural effects of an action which is at first sight purely administrative.
£10.44
Vintage Publishing Poems
Book SynopsisPresents the work of one of America's greatest poets, increasingly recognised as one of the greatest English-language poets of the twentieth century, loved by poets and readers alike.Trade ReviewOne of the greatest poets of the twentieth century -- William Boyd * Guardian *When we read her, we enter the classical serenity of a new country -- Robert LowellIf ever there was a poet whose every scrap of writing should be in print, that poet must be Elizabeth Bishop -- Christopher Reid
£13.49
Princeton University Press The Tale of Genji
Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""[A] beautiful book. . . . An exquisite work of art in its own right. . . . [The Tale of Genji] is a fascinating way to immerse oneself not only in Genji’s world but also in the refined culture of 16th-century Japan, through both words and pictures."---Lesley Downer, Literary Review"Written in the 11th century by the Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu, The Tale of Genji is a masterpiece of prose and poetry that is widely considered the world’s first novel. This stunning compendium combines discussions of all 54 of its chapters with paintings and calligraphy from the Genji Album (1510) in the Harvard Art Museums, the oldest dated set of Genji illustrations known to exist, here fully reproduced for the first time. English and Japanese transcriptions of the album’s calligraphy are included." * Publishers Weekly *"[Tale of Genji: A Visual Companion] serves equally well as a thorough introduction to a work of great literary and art-historical importance, and a deep dive into the book’s cultural and narrative subtleties for those who are already students of The Tale of Genji. . . . McCormick’s elucidation of the sprawling, dramatic, and beautiful Tale of Genji makes this book an educational experience for those of us without access to a Harvard survey course on the subject." * Hyperallergic *"McCormick here provides a condensed version of the novel ….[Her] commentary provides not only synopses of the corresponding chapters in the original novel, but also an interpretation of the album’s calligraphy, which often includes some symbolic meaning….McCormick also analyses the paintings, all of which are phenomenal works of art."---Claire Kohda Hazelton, Times Literary Supplement
£35.70
Spark The Crucible SparkNotes Literature Guide
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.
£5.99
Harvard University Press Lysis. Symposium. Phaedrus
Book SynopsisWorks in this volume explore the relationship between two people known as love (erōs) or friendship (philia). In Lysis, Socrates meets two young men at a wrestling school; in Symposium, he joins a company of accomplished men at a drinking party; and in Phaedrus, experimental speeches about love lead to a discussion of rhetoric.
£23.70
Oxford University Press The Enchanted April
Book Synopsis''To Those who Appreciate Wistaria and Sunshine. Small medieval castle on the shores of the Mediterranean to be let For the month of April, above a bay on the Italian Riviera.''Four very different women--the dishevelled and downtrodden Mrs Wilkins, the sad, sweet-faced Mrs Arbuthnot, the formidable widow Mrs Fisher, and the ravishing socialite Lady Caroline Dester--are drawn to the shores of the Mediterranean that April. As each, in turn, blossoms in the warmth of the Italian spring and finds their spirits stirring, quite unexpected changes occur.The Enchanted April (1922) is a deceptive and timely novel immured in a post-war context, a period noted for its wistful and sometimes satiric writings. Von Arnim''s novel is part of this oeuvre and portrays an escape to a carefully described pastoral enclave away from encroaching urbanisation and the spread of new technologies, in an era when the Great War had left many emotionally and physically starved. The journey to San Salvatore by four Trade ReviewAnchored within the lives of four very different women, this overtly potent novel is endemic of the era in which it was written, whilst simultaneously timeless and all transcending. * David Marx: Book Reviews *Table of ContentsIntroduction Note on the Text Select Bibliography Chronology THE ENCHANTED APRIL Explanatory Notes
£8.54
Boydell & Brewer Ltd Bestiary
Book SynopsisA delightful translation of one of the finest, and most beautiful, examples of a medieval Bestiary.Trade ReviewThe translation is pellucid, and the colourful late-gothic illustrations really delightful. Epic begets epic: stupendous and thought-provoking. * FORTEAN TIMES *An invaluable resource for readers and writers who aspire to understand how mediaeval men and women viewed the natural world, both actual and fantastical. * HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW *Excellent translation from the Latin original makes for fascinating reading about beasts, real and imaginary, of the medieval world. The most delightful picture-book about animals you'll ever see. * EVENING STANDARD *Hugely enjoyable, this English version of a 13th-century manuscript in the Bodleian Library offers every kind of beast... The illustrations are gorgeous and well reproduced. * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *Table of ContentsLion; lioness; tiger; panther; antelope; pard; unicorn; lynx; gryphon; elephant; beaver; ibex; hyena; bonnacon; ape; satyr; deer; tragelaphus; goat; wild goat; monoceros; bear; leucrota; crocodile; manticore; parander; fox; hare; chameleon; eale; wolf; dog; sheep; wether; lamb; kid; he-goat; sow; boar; bullock ox; buffalo; cow; calf; camel; ass; wild ass; dromedary; horse; mule; badger; cat; mouse; weasel; mole; dormouse; hedgehog; ant; frog; dea; eagle; barnacle; osprey; water-ouzel; coot; vulture; crane; parrot; charadrius; stork; heron; swan; ibis; ostrich; coot; jackdaw; halcyon; phoenix; cinnomolgus; harz bird; hoopoe; pelican; night-owl; screech-owl; sirens; partridge; magpie; sparrowhawk; hawk; bat; nightingale; raven; crow; dove; turtle-dove; swallow; quail; goose; peacock; screech-owl; hoopoe; cock; hen; duck; sparrow; kite; bee; perindens; serpent; dragon; basilisk; viper; asp; scitalis; amphisbaena; idrus; boas; iaculus; siren; seps; dipsa; lizard; salamander; saura; newt; snake; scorpion; horned serpent; worm; fish; whale; serra; dolphin.
£19.99
