Literary companions, book reviews and guides Books

Book Synopsis'The funniest book I've read in a long time: its deadpan, dry humour and its accumulation of absurdities will leave you rolling on your floor with laughter' The Times She thought she was a lover of the great classics of Russian literature - until she met the superfans... Roaming from Tashkent to San Francisco, this is the true story of one budding writer's strange encounters with the fanatics who are devoted - absurdly! melancholically! ecstatically! - to the Russian classics. Combining fresh readings of the great Russians from Tolstoy to Dostoevsky with the sad and funny stories of the lives they continue to influence, The Possessed is comic, humane, charming, poignant and full of an infectious love for literature. 'Dazzlingly good... Very bookish, very clever and very funny... A preposterously engaging volume' Jane Shilling, Sunday Telegraph 'The highest compliment you can pay such a book is that it sends you back to the original authors refreshed. I can go one higher - I found myself simply wanting to read more from Elif Batuman' Evening Standard 'An intoxicating mix of travel memoir, autobiography, literary criticism and philosophy... Charming and hilarious' Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewWildly original, creatively rambling... the funniest book I've read in a long time: its deadpan, dry humour and its accumulation of absurdities will leave you rolling on your floor with laughter * The Times *Dazzlingly good ... very bookish, very clever and very funny ... [The Possessed is] a preposterously engaging volume -- Jane Shilling * Sunday Telegraph *The highest compliment you can pay such a book is that it sends you back to the original authors refreshed. I can go one higher - I found myself simply wanting to read more from Elif Batuman * Evening Standard *An intoxicating mix of travel memoir, autobiography, literary criticism and philosophy... charming and hilarious * Daily Telegraph *Deeply clever and very funny * Guardian *Elif Batuman seems at home in that borderland between tragedy and comedy the great Russian writers colonised. The Possessed is insightful, poignant and very funny -- James MeekWise and delightfully funny -- Rachel PolonskyCharming, complex and life-enhancing -- Sarah Bakewell * Sunday Times *Hilarious, wide-ranging, erudite, and memorable * New York Times Book Review *Odd and oddly profound ... she's the kind of reader who sends you back to your bookshelves with a sublime buzz in your head. You want to feel what she's feeling. It's tempting to keep quoting her book forever * New York Times *A vividly engaging travelogue-cum-memoir ... Batuman is an astute observer with a terrific sense of humour and immense bravado -- Eileen Battersby * Irish Times *Batuman's refreshingly unlikely memoir recounts how she decided to devote her life to studying the great Russian novelists ... the result is the funniest book you're ever likely to read about Russian fiction -- Robert Collins * Sunday Times *The Possessed weaves anecdotes and literary criticism around Batuman's tales of her adventures in America, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Russia ... In some complicated way, this is a book about the relationship between art and life. But it's also a simple book about the relationship between art and life. Or, rather, it's a complicated book about the simple relationship between the two. In the end, all memoirs tend to end up as a defence of something. Batuman's is a defence of reading as a form of living -- Ian Sansom * Guardian *An eccentric, funny and always perceptive account of the authors long time immersion in the classics of Russian literature * Observer *I loved Batuman's quirky and perceptive account of her passion for Russian literature ... A move away from objective criticism towards the personal and what books actually mean to people, it is hugely appealing -- Lesley McDowell * Sunday Herald *Told in nimble and often funny prose * Guardian *Batuman's very different sentimental education is a wryly brilliant portrait of herself as a young Turkish intellectual emerging among American and Uzbek Russianists and rogues -- Selected by Fiona Sampson as a book of the year * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisBlank Artisan Notebooks, the new Journals from Flame Tree in a range of hues to suit the mood and the moment. They’re hand crafted with decorated edges overflowing with petals, teasing vines and patterns. A unique blend of the practical and beautiful, with two ribbons and unlined pages, the Blank Artisan Notebooks are perfect for notes, creative writing, poetry, sketches and doodles. And, with robust flexi covers, they’re easy to slip into your bag, a pleasure to use. Simply, they feel good! Flame Tree: The Art of Fine Gifts.

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Book SynopsisFind everything you need to achieve your full potential with York Notes for GCSE Study Guides, now updated for GCSE (9-1).

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Book SynopsisTable of Contents Part 1: Introducing Northanger Abbey Part 2: Studying Northanger Abbey Part 3: Characters and Themes Part 4: Structure, Form and Language Part 5: Contexts and Critical Debates Part 6: Grade Booster Essential Study Tools

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Book SynopsisThis updated edition is designed to support students in study and revision for the new GCSE (9-1) English Literature exams.Table of Contents Part 1: Induction Part 2: Plot and Action Part 3: Characters Part 4: Key Contexts and Themes Part 5: Language and Structure Part 6: Grade Booster Literacy Terms

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Book SynopsisThe Food Almanac II is an annual, seasonal collection of recipes and stories celebrating the joy of food – a dazzling, diverse mix of memoir, history, short stories and poems alongside recipes, cooking tips, menus and reading lists. Following on from The Food Almanac, which was shortlisted for the Jane Grigson Trust Award and the Fortnum & Mason Food & Drink Awards and received a tranche of stunning reviews, the second in the series offers another fascinating collection of recipes and stories. Prepare to go on a seasonal and joyful journey of food and what it means to different people. This curation is a dynamic, diverse mix of history, memoir, stories and poems, alongside recipes, cooking tips and techniques, menus and reading lists – from Caroline Eden describing the dining car on the Siberian Express to Diana Henry honouring the softness of autumn, from Simon Hopkinson discussing the glory of puddings to Russell Norman celebrating bitterness in the beautiful form of chicory and its many Italian varieties. Each month includes a seasonal three-course menu from food writers such as Jeremy Lee, Tommi Miers, Emily Scott and Calum Franklin, plus additional recipes from the likes of Mary Berry, Asma Khan, Darina Allen and Gill Meller – there is an abundance of thought-provoking, hunger-making food writing for you to tuck into, whatever the season. This book is an inspirational companion in the kitchen and an enriching, comforting read for the armchair cook. Join Miranda York, editor of At The Table, as she guides you through the year, accompanied by legendary food writers, lauded chefs, up-and-coming poets and award-winning novelists.Trade Review‘Even more handsome and diverting than the first. A gorgeous mixture of menus, food writing and book lists for every month of the year. A book to read.’ - Diana Henry 'Beautifully illustrated, winningly written' – The Times 'Beautifully illustrated and produced, it’s a book to curl up with as we head towards the darker months.' – Telegraph Weekend 'What better gift for a foodie?' -The Bookseller 'The perfect book to tuck into for a long read during the cold days and nights of winter and then dip back into throughout the year.' – The Independent 'A literary pick-and-mix by your favourite food writers…suitable to enjoy snuggling under the duvet, with Love Actually on a loop.’ – The Oldie 'A lovely, convivial celebration of all that is good about food.' – The Simple Things 'This is one for the armchair cook who likes to dip in and out of a volume of good food writing. Simply lovely. – The Irish Sunday Times 'This is a book to keep both in the kitchen and on your bedside table. Reading it felt as soothing as podding broad beans. This collection of seasonal thoughts & recipes is packed full of delicious treats from wonderful food writers, from Claudia Roden to Diana Henry, from Itamar Srulovich to Meera Sodha.' – Bee Wilson "A joy for anyone who loves reading about food, The Food Almanac weaves poetry, recipes, essays and illustrations together to make a book that will carry you through the year. Rich, diverse and thoughtful." – Diana Henry "Not just a book for all seasons, but for all moods too – a timeless, eclectic, truly satisfying feast of great food writing." – Felicity Cloake "A brilliantly curated collection of work from the best, freshest and most thought provoking voices in food." – Tim Hayward "The Food Almanac is a tonic for the palate and the mind." – Fuchsia Dunlop

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Book SynopsisA renowned scholar of the English language, Tolkien is today celebrated as the father of the high fantasy genre. Drawing on his knowledge of languages, mythology and legend, he created an entire alternative reality, Middle Earth, and populated it with hobbits, orcs, ents, dragons, magicians and giant spiders.Packed with fascinating facts about Tolkien's life and labours, this delightful volume includes extracts from his works, letters and interviews, as well as from his contemporaries and admirers. It's a celebration of the writer whose imagination and creative genius changed the course of fantasy literature.'I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone.' The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)'I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but size). I like gardens, trees and unmechanized farmlands; I smoke a pipe, and like good plain food (unrefrigerated), but detest French cooking...' Tolkien in a letter to Deborah Webster, 25 October 1958In July 1915, Tolkien took part in the Somme offensive, the bloodiest battle of the Great War. While recovering in hospital from trench fever, he wrote his first Elvish word list, as well as the first fragments of what would become The Silmarillion.The inspiration for The Hobbit came to Tolkien unexpectedly in the summer of 1930, while he was working his way through a huge stack of student essays. On a blank page he found himself scrawling, 'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.'Table of ContentsTolkien the Man and the Hobbit • Languages • Storyteller • Fantasy Worlds and Fables • Ents and Elves • Tolkien's Legacy

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Book SynopsisIlluminating the central struggle in The Lord of the Rings to deepen understanding of the whole of Tolkien's legendariumIn this remarkable work of close reading and analysis, Thomas P. Hillman gets to the heart of the tension between pity and the desire for power in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. As the book traces the entangled story of the One Ring and its effects, we come to understand Tolkien's central paradox: while pity is necessary for destroying the Ring, it cannot save the Ring-bearer from the Ring's lies and corruption.In composing The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien explored the power of the Ring and the seeming powerlessness of pity. All the themes his mythology had come to encompass—death and immortality, fate and free will, divine justice and the problem of evil, power and war—took on a new dimension in the journey of Frodo Baggins. Hillman's attention to specific etymologies and patterns of words used in the text, complemented by his judicious use of Tolkien's letters, earlier drafts of the novels, and Tolkien's essays, leads to illuminating and original insights. Instead of turning his interpretation to allegory or apologetics, Hillman demonstrates how the story works metaphorically, allowing Tolkien to embrace both Catholic views and pagan mythology.With this fresh understanding of familiar material, Pity, Power, and Tolkien's Ring will ignite new discussions and deeper appreciation among Tolkien readers and scholars alike.Trade Review"Tom Hillman brings compassion—and a wealth of knowledge—to this analysis of Tolkien's use of pity in The Lord of the Rings. Scholars, students, and fans will learn from it." —Verlyn Flieger, author of Splintered Light and A Question of Time "Thomas Hillman gives the finest sustained close reading that The Lord of the Rings has ever received. Hillman examines how pity, as a concept and sentiment, manifests itself in the actions of Frodo and others as they struggle with the uncanny, malevolent lure of the One Ring." —Nicholas Birns, author of The Literary Role of History in the Fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien "Hillman's study of Tolkien is both timely and timeless. Timely, because events in our world seem to be mirroring what Tolkien saw around him as he wrote and revised his masterpiece. Timeless, because Hillman's insights, despite being entirely original, are the kinds of observations that make you think 'Of course! How did I not think of that?' and forever change your understanding of a work you thought you knew."—Michael D. C. Drout, Wheaton College, Massachusetts

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Book SynopsisCelebrate the King of Horror’s 75th birthday with Stephen King, which explores the connections between Stephen King’s life and his body of work.Trade Review"Holy smokes, what an awesome book…It’s a must read for any fan." * Being Fictional *"...noted King chronicler Bev Vincent’s spent years delving into the undoubtedly haunted halls of King’s archives, unearthing letters, notes, outlines and photos that shed light on the novelist’s inspirations and frustrations. The resulting encyclopedic account of the novelist’s life and career, with pitstops in such terrifying towns as Castle Rock and Derry, is a (trick or) treat for all of us Constant Readers." -- Marcus Errico * Yahoo! *"Frankly, it’s a beautiful book, designed with character and creepiness that enhance the experience without becoming a gimmick or nuisance to reading." * Horror Obsessive *"Vincent consistently displays that same knack for expertly tucked-away nuggets amidst a more conventional narrative paved on book publications and career milestones. Vincent writes about King in a direct and simple style that allows King, often quoted verbatim, to rise to the fore. The volume, ‘‘published on the occasion of Stephen King’s seventy-fifth birthday,’’ transcends the simple marketing tool or hagiographic indulgence it might have been by combining studious knowledge with accessibility and insight." -- Alvaro Zinos-Amaro * Locus Mag *"Less than a dozen pages in and I knew this was everything I had hoped for. Bev Vincent has found a way to celebrate King’s complete body of work in a way that feels both academic and casual." * Derry Public Radio - Constant Readers *"This is a great reference book that the casual reader of King’s books will learn a lot from and in which, even we King nerds that read everything he has written still find new things." * Lilja's Library *"The almost conversational tone of the book is engaging and accessible, with extensive footnotes, credits, and appendices to extend readers’ experience with the topic." * Library Journal *"Bev Vincent did an amazing job putting this book together. It has everything you need to know about Stephen King. If you are about to delve into Stephen King, I recommend you start with Stephen King: A Complete Exploration of His Work Life, and Influences by Bev Vincent." * Sandbox World *"...takes fans on an in-depth look at exactly what it is that makes the King of Horror tick. Vincent knows his material and delivers the sort of depth and detail that many ‘behind the scenes’ books promise, but rarely deliver." * FilmJuice *"When it comes to expounding on King’s work, Vincent knows his stuff, through and through. Whether writing about King’s radio station or time with the Rock-Bottom Remainders, Vincent is curious in his approach and thorough in his results." -- Michael Berry * Portland Press Herald *"It’s a blast to open the book at random and dive in, and Vincent ensures every King text receives its just due." * TheFilmStage.com *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 THE FUTURE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN (1950–1969) INTERLUDE: THE POETRY OF STEPHEN KING CHAPTER 2 THE DOUBLEDAY YEARS (1970s) INTERLUDE: STEPHEN KING AS RICHARD BACHMAN INTERLUDE: WELCOME TO CASTLE ROCK CHAPTER 3 MIDAS TOUCH (1980s) INTERLUDE: THE DARK TOWER INTERLUDE: UNSEEN KING INTERLUDE: WELCOME TO DERRY CHAPTER 4 EXPERIMENTATION AND CHANGE (1990s) INTERLUDE: THE ACCIDENT CONTENTS CHAPTER 5 AFTER THE ACCIDENT (2000s) INTERLUDE: THE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE CHAPTER 5 KING OF CRIME (2010 AND BEYOND) CONCLUSION THE TEST OF TIME SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDIX I BOOKS APPENDIX II SHORT STORIES AND NOVELLAS APPENDIX III ADAPTATIONS ENDNOTES IMAGE CREDITS ABOUT THE AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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Book SynopsisImmerse yourself in the stories behind the most shocking and infamous books ever published!Censorship of one form or another has existed almost as long as the written word, while definitions of what is deemed acceptable in published works have shifted over the centuries, and from culture to culture.Banned Books explores why some of the world''s most important literary classics and seminal non-fiction titles were once deemed too controversial for the public to read - whether for challenging racial or sexual norms, satirizing public figures, or simply being deemed unfit for young readers. From the banning of All Quiet on the Western Front and the repeated suppression of On the Origin of the Species, to the uproar provoked by Lady Chatterley''s Lover, entries offer a fascinating chronological account of censorship and the astonishing role that some banned books have played in changing history. Packed with eye-opening insights

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Book SynopsisOn the 200th anniversary of the first edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Transmedia Creatures presents studies of Frankenstein by international scholars from converging disciplines such as humanities, musicology, film studies, television studies, English and digital humanities. These innovative contributions investigate the afterlives of a novel taught in a disparate array of courses - Frankenstein disturbs and transcends boundaries, be they political, ethical, theological, aesthetic, and not least of media, ensuring its vibrant presence in contemporary popular culture. Transmedia Creatures highlights how cultural content is redistributed through multiple media, forms and modes of production (including user-generated ones from “below”) that often appear synchronously and dismantle and renew established readings of the text, while at the same time incorporating and revitalizing aspects that have always been central to it. The authors engage with concepts, value systems and aesthetic-moral categories—among them the family, horror, monstrosity, diversity, education, risk, technology, the body—from a variety of contemporary approaches and highly original perspectives, which yields new connections. Ultimately, Frankenstein, as evidenced by this collection, is paradoxically enriched by the heteroglossia of preconceptions, misreadings, and overreadings that attend it, and that reveal the complex interweaving of perceptions and responses it generates. Published by Bucknell University Press. Distributed worldwide by Rutgers University Press.Trade Review"Mary Shelley’s novel has had so many afterlives: the text lives and is constantly reincarnated as an unparalleled text of revision, rewriting, misreading, and overreading in science fiction, film, young adult literature, feminism, biomedical ethics, drama, and many other arenas. On the occasion of the anniversary of the 1818 edition of Frankenstein, editors Francesca Saggini and Anna Enrichetta Soccio have gathered an admirably wide range of approaches to that vast afterlife. The productive analyses here of these transmedia incarnations demonstrate the power of Shelley’s ur-text and offer delightful opportunities to enliven our teaching and understanding of Frankenstein and his afterlives." -- Audrey Fisch * New Jersey City University *"One rarely encounters scholarly territory upon which Mary Shelley's peripatetic creature has not already left its mark, but this exceptional collection has managed to uncover new and exciting ground in Frankenstein studies. In Transmedia Creatures: Frankenstein's Afterlives, Saggini and Soccio present original interdisciplinary essays by international scholars that explore Shelley's novel as it is incarnated through the lens of multiple media and differing modes of production. Erudite and entertaining, this work gives us a fresh and often-startling view of that famous 'hideous progeny' as it is reborn in everything from fanfiction and steampunk adaptations to musical compositions and video games." -- Ghislaine McDayter * Bucknell University *"Chronicle of Higher Education new scholarly books weekly book list," by Nina C. Ayoub * Chronicle of Higher Education *"The scholarship is sound. . .Transmedia Creatures offers some exciting new avenues to explore in the wake of the bicentenary of Shelley’s novel. Recommended." * Choice *"Saggini and Soccio’s [book] defies expectations and has a great deal to say about the pedagogical uses to which Frankenstein’s textual afterlives might be put. [...] many of the essays in this volume, although they don’t define themselves that way, might be characterized by what we now call presentist in that they trace how cultural forebodings about the dangers of difference that preoccupy the novel get re-mediated in contemporary culture to address those same concerns. [...] All of these essays are never less than illuminating, in their varied ways, on some understudied or overlooked aspect of the novel’s afterlives, as should be obvious from the book’s title but is never a given." * European Romantic Review *"In Transmedia Creatures, Saggini and Soccio collect a truly international group of thirteen contributors who investigate the ways how Frankenstein adaptations traverse media, genre, and national boundaries....[T]his volume particularly appealing to instructors looking for innovation in teaching the novel." * Science Fiction Studies *"Mary Shelley’s novel has had so many afterlives: the text lives and is constantly reincarnated as an unparalleled text of revision, rewriting, misreading, and overreading in science fiction, film, young adult literature, feminism, biomedical ethics, drama, and many other arenas. On the occasion of the anniversary of the 1818 edition of Frankenstein, editors Francesca Saggini and Anna Enrichetta Soccio have gathered an admirably wide range of approaches to that vast afterlife. The productive analyses here of these transmedia incarnations demonstrate the power of Shelley’s ur-text and offer delightful opportunities to enliven our teaching and understanding of Frankenstein and his afterlives." -- Audrey Fisch * New Jersey City University *"One rarely encounters scholarly territory upon which Mary Shelley's peripatetic creature has not already left its mark, but this exceptional collection has managed to uncover new and exciting ground in Frankenstein studies. In Transmedia Creatures: Frankenstein's Afterlives, Saggini and Soccio present original interdisciplinary essays by international scholars that explore Shelley's novel as it is incarnated through the lens of multiple media and differing modes of production. Erudite and entertaining, this work gives us a fresh and often-startling view of that famous 'hideous progeny' as it is reborn in everything from fanfiction and steampunk adaptations to musical compositions and video games." -- Ghislaine McDayter * Bucknell University *"Chronicle of Higher Education new scholarly books weekly book list," by Nina C. Ayoub * Chronicle of Higher Education *"The scholarship is sound. . .Transmedia Creatures offers some exciting new avenues to explore in the wake of the bicentenary of Shelley’s novel. Recommended." * Choice *"Saggini and Soccio’s [book] defies expectations and has a great deal to say about the pedagogical uses to which Frankenstein’s textual afterlives might be put. [...] many of the essays in this volume, although they don’t define themselves that way, might be characterized by what we now call presentist in that they trace how cultural forebodings about the dangers of difference that preoccupy the novel get re-mediated in contemporary culture to address those same concerns. [...] All of these essays are never less than illuminating, in their varied ways, on some understudied or overlooked aspect of the novel’s afterlives, as should be obvious from the book’s title but is never a given." * European Romantic Review *"In Transmedia Creatures, Saggini and Soccio collect a truly international group of thirteen contributors who investigate the ways how Frankenstein adaptations traverse media, genre, and national boundaries....[T]his volume particularly appealing to instructors looking for innovation in teaching the novel." * Science Fiction Studies *Table of ContentsAbbreviations ix Introduction: Frankenstein: Presence, Process, Progress Francesca SagginiPA R T I Labs, Bots, and Punks: Transmediating Technology and Science 1 Frankenstein and Science Fiction Gino Roncaglia 2 Monstrous Algorithms and the Web of Fear: Risk, Crisis, and Spectral Finance in Robert Harris’s The Fear Index Lidia De Michelis 3 Frankensteinian Gods, Fembots, and the New Technological Frontier in Alex Garland’s Ex_Machina Eleanor BealPA R T I I Becoming Monsters: The Limits of the Human 4 Staging Steampunk Aesthetics in Frankenstein Adaptations: Mechanization, Disability, and the Body Claire Nally 5 Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus in the Postcolony Claudia Gualtieri 6 Four- Color Myth: Frankenstein in the Comics Federico MeschiniPA RT I I I The Evolution Games of Sight and Sound 7 “Uncouth and inarticulate sounds”: Musico- Literary Traces in Frankenstein, and Frankenstein in Art Music Enrico Reggiani 8 Enter Monsieur le Monstre: Cultural Border- Crossing and Frankenstein in London and Paris in 1826 Diego Saglia 9 The Theme of the Doppelgänger in James Searle Dawley’s Frankenstein Daniele Pio Buenza 10 Perverting the Family: Re- Working Victor Frankenstein’s Gothic Blood- Ties in Penny Dreadful Ruth HeholtPA R T I V Monster Reflections 11 The Masked Performer and “the Mane Electric”: The Lives and Multimedia Afterlives of Margaret Atwood’s Doctor Frankenstein Janet Larson 12 Young Adult Frankenstein Andrew McInnes 13 Revivifying Frankenstein’s Myth: Historical Encounters and Dialogism in Back from the Dead: The True Sequel to Frankenstein Anna Enrichetta Soccio Acknowledgments Bibliography Index About the Contributors

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Book SynopsisWho is Holmes? The world's most famous detective? A drug addict with a heart as cold as ice? A millstone around the neck of his creator? He's all of these things and much, much more. Sherlock Holmes was the brainchild of Portsmouth GP Arthur Conan Doyle. A writer of historical romantic fiction, Doyle became unhappy that the detective's enormous success eclipsed his more serious offerings. But after attempting to wipe him out at the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland, Doyle was faced with a vociferous backlash from the general public and eventually he had no choice but to bring his sleuth back from the grave to face more puzzling mysteries. While not strictly speaking 'canonical', Holmes' deerstalker, curved pipe and cries of 'Elementary, my dear Watson!' have been immortalised in countless stage, film, television and radio productions. An iconic fictional creation, inseparable from his partner-in-crime Dr John Watson, Sherlock Holmes has charmed and fascinated millions of people around the world since his first appearance over a century ago. He is one of English literature's finest creations.Trade ReviewMark Campbell on Conan Doyle's Dartmoor * Independent on Saturday *Mark Campbell on Sherlock Holmes' London Haunts * Independent on Saturday *

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Book SynopsisDevils, witches and evil - the insubstantial but terrifying world of the supernatural as it was seen by Robert Burns and his contemporaries is examined in this new book, brought out for the 250th anniversary of the poet's birth. Several of Burns' poems dealt with the supernatural, the most famous of which, "Tam o Shanter", is examined in detail. It is from this poem that the book's title comes: 'And roars out, "Weel done, Cutty-sark!" And in an instant all was dark And scarcely had he Maggie rallied When out the hellish legion sallied.' In contrast with the 'other world' was the everyday lives of the country people and the nature of the material world in which they lived; the book also examines this and the changes that were taking place in Burns' time.Trade Review'The "hellish legion" referred to in the title of this informative and friendly book, is that body of witches, ghosts, satanic sprites and anything else devilish that might have informed the lives of Robert Burns and his fellow Ayrshire men and women, and further, his own epic poem, Tam o' Shanter. ... It's possible, then, to read Tam o' Shanter also as a nostalgic piece, a recording of a way of looking at the world that was passing by.' The Herald '... does an excellent job in introducing the man and the places in which he lived.' The Folklore SocietyTable of ContentsIntroduction: The Life of Robert Burns The People of Lowland Scotland The Deil, Death and Ghosts Witches, Spirits and otehr Curious Things Eveil Men, Bad Weather and the Awful Future Medicines The Year Tam o' Shanter Select Bibliography Further Reading and Exploring Index

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Book SynopsisFeatures explanations of key themes, motifs and symbols and detailed analysis of important characters.

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Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Last Act of Love, Cathy Rentzenbrink's Dear Reader is the ultimate love letter to reading and to finding the comfort and joy in stories.'Exquisite' - Marian Keyes, author of Grown Ups'A warm, unpretentious manifesto for why books matter’ - Sunday ExpressGrowing up, Cathy Rentzenbrink was rarely seen without her nose in a book and read in secret long after lights out. When tragedy struck, it was books that kept her afloat. Eventually they lit the way to a new path, first as a bookseller and then as a writer. No matter what the future holds, reading will always help.A moving, funny and joyous exploration of how books can change the course of your life, packed with recommendations from one reader to another.Trade ReviewCelebrates reading as a means of connection and a vehicle for escapism . . . a heartfelt reminder that, for all the wholesome effects that reading arguably has, the first reason to do it is for pleasure. Fittingly, Dear Reader is a pleasure to read * Times *I will never, ever forget the way Dear Reader made me feel: it is profoundly tender, generous, joy-filled, love-filled and compassionate. I have read so many wonderful books this year but this is the one I would buy and give away to everyone in the world if I could -- Daisy Buchanan, author of How to Be a Grown-UpIf you love books or if you need companionship during a difficult patch in your life or if you simply want to be taken by the hand by a writer who is kind, wise, funny, generous, insightful and profound, then this is the book for you -- Elizabeth DayExquisite. Dear Reader is touching, beautiful and contains countless excellent book recommendations! -- Marian KeyesCathy Rentzenbrink’s exploration of reading books and the comfort they bring in Dear Reader feels like art in your hands * Stylist, 'Best Gift Books this Christmas' *Joyful, poignant and essential reading for people who love books . . . it is a book to cherish -- Nina StibbeBeautifully written and a joy to read, Dear Reader is a best friend of a book -- AJ Pearce, Sunday Times bestselling author of Dear Mrs BirdThis love letter to reading, which is packed with recommendations, is pure joy * Good Housekeeping *Dear Reader restored my soul -- Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie LangtonA companion for readers everywhere . . . intimate, kind and self-effacing, it feels like someone is sitting right next to you, holding your hand and sharing their secrets. I loved it -- Kit de Waal, author of My Name is LeonA warm, unpretentious manifesto for why books matter * Sunday Express *Dear Reader is the best thing I’ve read for ages and it will stay with me forever -- Philippa Perry, author of The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will be Glad That You Did)Your first port of call if you’re looking for a book to recommend or just a bit stuck on what to choose next. But it’s more than a reference book; it’s a personal account of how books have comforted the author and what they can do for the soul -- Kit de Waal * New Statesman, Books of the Year *A wonderful warm bath of a book. Perfect for all bookworms to sink into -- Jenny Colgan, author of Meet Me At The Cupcake CaféThis is a book that shows what can happen when reading becomes one of the foundation stones in someone’s life, how it miraculously reveals a map when you’ve lost your path and how it will always provide a connection to the world when we feel alone . . . Cathy, prepare for adulation -- Diane Setterfield, author of The Thirteenth TaleDear Reader is a comfort, an inspiration and a gift of a book for readers, reluctant readers and anyone who wants to feel better about themselves and the world. I applaud Cathy Rentzenbrink, she is a truly brilliant writer -- Julia Samuel, author of Grief WorksYour first port of call if you’re looking for a book to recommend or just a bit stuck on what to choose next. But it’s more than a reference book; it’s a personal account of how books have comforted the author and what they can do for the soul -- Kit de Waal, 'Books of the Year' * New Statesman *Comfort reading has been to the fore lately, and you'll find it in abundance in this joyous memoir of a life immersed in the pleasures and consolations of books by the author of The Last Act of Love . . . It's chock-full of Rentzenbrink's splendid reading recommendations, from "Children's Books I Love to Reread" and books about "Bad Love", to "Posh People Behaving Badly" and "Helpful Non-Fiction", which her own book most certainly is -- Caroline Sanderson * The Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisA reader''s journey along the French Riviera, from Hyeres and Saint-Tropez to the Italian border, introducing the lives and work of writers who passed this way.The sunlight and calm of the French Riviera have been a magnet for writers since the fourteenth century. The Cote d''Azur has provided the inspiration and setting for some of the greatest literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.From distinguished Nobel laureates to new authors who found their voices there, Ted Jones''s encyclopaedic work covers them all: writers such as Graham Greene and W. Somerset Maugham, who spent much of their lives there; F. Scott Fitzgerald and Guy de Maupassant, whose work it dominates.The book also includes the countless writers who simply lingered there, including Louisa M. Alcott, Hans Christian Anderson, J.G. Ballard, Samuel Beckett, Arnold Bennett, William Boyd, Bertholt Brecht, Anthony Burgess, Albert Camus, Bruce Chatwin, Joseph Conrad, Charles Dickens, T.S. Eliot, Ian Fleming,Trade ReviewThe ultimate travel book for anyone who likes sun and literature. I found it irresistible. -- Peter MayleThere are two views of the French Riviera. One says it is an overdeveloped blot on the landscape; the other that it is the epitome of style. If you veer towards the latter, and enjoy literary history, this book is for you. Drawing on the stories of more than 150 writers, Jones does a great job of buffing up the legend. -- Anthony Sattin * Sunday Times, Books of the Week *Thoughtful, entertaining and vivid, Jones’s The French Riviera sweeps us along the coast ... Jones’s book is sad only because it reminds us of how much of the Riviera’s tranquil beauty has been sacrificed. The list of literary lovers of the Riviera almost beggars belief. It is delightful to have their eloquent, acerbic, lyrical responses collected here, in a book that deserves to become a favourite with all travellers. -- Miranda Seymour * Sunday Times *There is much to relish. The author is assiduous in recording who wrote what where and when, in seeking out memorial plaques and mourning lost landmarks. -- E. S. Turner * Times Literary Supplement *A vivid guide to the Cote d’Azur in the eyes of some of the greatest writers of their time. -- Jane Meys * Daily Mail *Certainly among the best of recent books on the area. Jones has done a lot of research and presents his results in a clear and lively style. The book will appeal obviously to those with literary interests but it’s also designed to please those who enjoy Sunday paper-style gossip (broadsheet, of course). -- Patrick Middleton * The Riviera Reporter *Unsurpassed in literary name-dropping. -- David Armstrong * San Francisco Chronicle *Some travel guides offer the basics. Others, such as Ted Jones’ The French Riviera, weave the works of other literary giants into a narrative that gives a sense of history of a place. Jones’ book provides glimpses of works by writers such as Agatha Christie, Joseph Conrad, Ian Fleming, Aldous Huxley, Ernest Hemingway, Victor Hugo and James Joyce and their feelings about the French Riviera. * Salt Lake City Tribune *With a cast of more than 150 authors, the book is an incredible tour-de-force. Through taking several years of diligent research to complete, Ted guides the reader on a remarkable journey, where the lives and loves of so many writers unfold before us along the sundrenched shores of the French Riviera. * www.amb-cotedazur.com *Part travel-guide, part biography, the elegant text retraces the footsteps of some of the world’s greatest literary geniuses. Enough to tempt even the strongest-willed to book a ticket. Snap up a copy of Ted’s book. ... The literary world’s answer to Heat magazine, Ted uncovers endlessly fascinating material. * Slough & Windsor Express *The palm-fringed beaches of Cannes, Nice, Monaco and the other magical Mediterranean coastal towns and villages of sun-swept southeastern France are lovingly described by travel journalist Ted Jones. * Frequent Flyer Magazine *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Map Preface Introduction Hyères: Gateway to the Riviera Cannes: City of Festivals Antibes: The City Opposite The Back Country: The Balcony of the Mediterranean Nice: The Heart of the Riviera Cap Ferrat: Almost an Island Monaco: City of Millionaires Menton: Sanatorium Citu Epilogue Author Profiles Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisDesigned for teachers, this is a comprehensive book of lesson plans, projects, discussion questions, reproducible worksheets and more.

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Book SynopsisThe companion volume to the complete Diary of Samuel Pepys in its most authoritative and acclaimed edition.Samuel Pepys's Diary was first published in abbreviated form in 1825. A succession of new versions brought out in the Victorian era made the Diary one of the best-known books and Pepys one of the best-known figures of English history. However, not until the publication of the Latham and Matthews edition was the Diary presented in its complete form, with a newly transcribed text and the benefit of a systematic commentary. The text of the Diary is in nine volumes, followed by this Companion and an Index. The edition has justly become established as the definitive version, hailed by The Times as one of the glories of contemporary English publishing' and by C. P. Snow as a triumph of modern scholarship'.The Companion has been compiled and edited by Robert Latham, with specialist contributions from other scholars. The result of many years' research, it is an essential adjunct to the DiTrade Review‘In paperback at last! The maps, glossary, single-volume Companion and superbly usable Index, the inexhaustible footnotes, are all here. This is a marvellous and cheering event.’Observer ‘There is horror… and there is humour… and its availability at an affordable price deserves recognition as a laudable publishing achievement.’Cambridge Evening News

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Book SynopsisA completely revised edition of this best-selling Bible resource with new ideas, diagrams and illustrations Uniquely presented, this handbook uses modern language, humour and ingenious diagrams to bring the Bible to life.The Bible Book is a unique kind of guide to the Bible. Informative, though-provoking and very, very readable, this is a book that will help you explore the most famous book in the world. Informal, but informed, simple but never simplistic, The Bible Book tackles the Bible with honesty, humour and inventiveness. This book won''t baffle you with jargon, but it won''t insult your intelligence either.Nick Page maps out the way the Bible works, showing you the route through and the places of interest along the way. With its illuminating graphics and user-friendly design, The Bible Book is an indispensable handbook for anyone setting out to explore the exciting world of the Bible.Contents include:Quick Guide Your at-a-glance introduction to every book of the BibleQuestions,

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Book SynopsisWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY HERMIONE LEE The previously uncollected occasional prose of a great English writer – full of wit, feeling and illumination.Trade Review‘Of all the novelists in English of the last quarter-century, Penelope Fitzgerald has the most unarguable claim on greatness.’ Philip Hensher ‘This generous selection of essays, reviews, introductions and other occasional writings proves yet again that stylistically, intellectually and morally Fitzgerald couldn’t put a foot wrong if she’d tried. Hers is an impeccable and unique voice not just from another century but another world.’ Michael Dibdin, Books of the Year, Daily Telegraph ‘Remarkable. It is the range of her scholarship that impresses.’ Doris Lessing, Books of the Year, Daily Telegraph ‘An intelligent writer, superbly and unfailingly so. Wise and funny, with a dry wit allied to a great emotional sympathy.’ Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisWinner of four major prizes for the best critical/biographical book related to crime fiction: the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity and H.R.F. Keating Awards; and shortlisted for both the Agatha and Gold Dagger Awards.Martin Edwards is the closest thing there has been to a philosopher of crime writing.' The TimesIn the first major history of crime fiction in fifty years, The Life of Crime: Detecting the History of Mysteries and their Creators traces the evolution of the genre from the eighteenth century to the present, offering brand-new perspective on the world's most popular form of fiction.Author Martin Edwards is a multi-award-winning crime novelist, the President of the Detection Club, archivist of the Crime Writers' Association and series consultant to the British Library's highly successful series of crime classics, and therefore uniquely qualified to write this book. He has been a widely respected genre commentator for more than thirty years, winning the CWA Diamond Dagger for making a significant contribution to crime writing in 2020, when he also compiled and published Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club and the novel Mortmain Hall. His critically acclaimed The Golden Age of Murder (Collins Crime Club, 2015) was a landmark study of Detective Fiction between the wars.The Life of Crime is the result of a lifetime of reading and enjoying all types of crime fiction, old and new, from around the world. In what will surely be regarded as his magnum opus, Martin Edwards has thrown himself undaunted into the breadth and complexity of the genre to write an authoritative and readable study of its development and evolution. With crime fiction being read more widely than ever around the world, and with individual authors increasingly the subject of extensive academic study, his expert distillation of more than two centuries of extraordinary books and authors from the tales of E.T.A. Hoffmann to the novels of Patricia Cornwell into one coherent history is an extraordinary feat and makes for compelling reading.Trade Review‘Magisterial but wickedly entertaining … reliably readable and frequently amusing. It also inspires awe: Edwards combines wide reading with a good memory, meticulous control over his unruly material, critical acumen and sheer bloody persistence.’ ANDREW TAYLOR, THE SPECTATOR ‘As entertaining and illuminating a history of crime and thriller fiction as I’ve ever read.’ IAN RANKIN ‘Impressively scholarly and joyfully anecdotal… it’s hard to imagine this book being superseded for many years to come.’ MORNING STAR ‘Vastly entertaining … [Edwards] plots the development of the genre and the bizarre lives of writers … You’ll find all your favourites here, from Edgar Allan Poe to PD James … But be warned – you’ll end up with a reading list as long as a giant’s arm.’ DENIS MANN, DAILY EXPRESS ‘A magisterial history of mysteries and their creators.’ THE TIMES ‘There is plenty here for mystery readers, whether well-versed in the genre’s history or not —and mystery writers will welcome this book as a resource.’THE NEW YORK TIMES ‘A magisterial work… THE LIFE OF CRIME does more than just inform, entertain and provoke, it also sends new readers back to old books.’THE WASHINGTON POST REVIEWS FOR MARTIN EDWARDS: ‘Few, if any, books about crime fiction have provided so much information and insight so enthusiastically and, for the reader, so enjoyably’ THE TIMES ‘Illuminating and entertaining – provides a new way of looking at old favourites.’ LEN DEIGHTON, author of The Ipcress File ‘Forensically sharp and exhaustively informed… Crime fiction is driven by death. In this superbly compendious and entertaining book, Edwards ensures that dozens of authorial corpses are gloriously reborn.’ MARK LAWSON, Guardian

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Book SynopsisThe word mesmerising is frequently applied to memoirs, but seldom as deservedly as in the case of Girl With Dove' Financial TimesReading is a form of escape and an avid reader is an escape artist'Brilliantly original, funny and clever Honor Clark, Spectator, Book of the YearGrowing up in a dilapidated house by the sea where men were forbidden, Sally's childhood world was filled with mystery and intrigue. Hippies trailed through the kitchen looking for God their leader was Aunt Di, who ruled the house with charismatic force. When Sally's baby brother vanishes from his pram, she becomes suspicious of the activities going on around her. What happened to Baby David and the woman called Poor Sue? And where did all the people singing and wailing prayers in the front room suddenly go?Disappearing into a world of books and reading, Sally adopts the tried and tested methods of Miss Marple. Taking books for hints and clues, she turns herself into a reading detective. Her discovery of Jane Eyre Trade Review‘This is a very eccentric memoir … I liked it, because I was captivated by Sally Bayley's poetic light touch … Thanks to the guidance of three beloved fictional characters … who came alive in her imagination, young Sally negotiated her way through the jungle of her childhood’ The Times ‘The strangest and most striking memoir I have read in years … Her bold poetic prose carries the sinister cackle of Bertha Mason on a warm breeze through St Mary Mead, to be wafted away in comic disdain by Betsey Trotwood’ Helen Brown, Daily Telegraph ‘A testament to innocence, resilience and the protective power of the imagination …This is a story about the child’s need to make sense of chaos and the redemptive power of stories to bestow meaning … The word “mesmerising” is frequently applied to memoirs, but seldom as deservedly as in the case of Girl With Dove, a work suffused with psychological depth, literary inventiveness and subtle brilliance’ Financial Times ‘Bayley’s family are compelling, certainly, but it’s the formidable and moving lines of much-loved prose, sketched long ago in the classics, that provide much of Girl With Dove’s horsepower’ Irish Times ‘A brilliant evocation of the porousness for children between reality and fiction …The book is beautifully written … just let its poetic rhythms lap over you … it left me longing for more of Bayley's recollections from a place of relative tranquility’ Spectator ‘A moving, highly original memoir … It’s a remarkable testament to reading as a “strong torch, shining through the dark”’ The Bookseller ‘This extraordinary book … an astonishing tale, astonishingly written in clear, precise prose … Bayley is exceptionally good at bringing us into the child's world … there's a raw, visceral power to the writing, which turns the abstract physical on almost every page … the prose sings … This bold, arresting memoir is about the quest for a different kind of truth’ Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisExam Board: AQALevel: GCSE Grade 9-1Subject: English LiteratureSuitable for the 2024 examsEverything you need to revise for your GCSE 9-1 set text in a snap guideEverything you need to score top marks on your GCSE Grade 9-1 English Literature exam is right at your fingertips! Revise Animal Farm by George Orwell in a snap with this new GCSE Grade 9-1 Snap Revision Text Guide from Collins. Refresh your knowledge of the plot, context, characters and themes and pick up top tips along the way to ace your AQA exam. Each topic is explained in an easy-to-read format so you can get straight to the point. Then, put your skills to the test with plenty of practice questions included in every section. The Snap Text Guides are packed with every quote and extract you need. We've even included examples of how to plan and write your essay responses! This Collins English Literature revision guide contains all the key information you need to practise and pass.

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Book SynopsisExam Board: AQALevel: GCSE Grade 9-1Subject: English LiteratureSuitable for the 2024 examsEverything you need to revise for your GCSE 9-1 set text in a snap guideEverything you need to score top marks on your GCSE Grade 9-1 English Literature exam is right at your fingertips! Revise The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon in a snap with this new GCSE Grade 9-1 Snap Revision Text Guide from Collins. Refresh your knowledge of the plot, context, characters and themes and pick up top tips along the way to ace your AQA exam. Each topic is explained in an easy-to-read format so you can get straight to the point. Then, put your skills to the test with plenty of practice questions included in every section. The Snap Text Guides are packed with every quote and extract you need. We've even included examples of how to plan and write your essay responses! This Collins English Literature revision guide contains all the key information you need to practise and pass.

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Book SynopsisExam Board: AQALevel: GCSE Grade 9-1Subject: English LiteratureSuitable for the 2024 examsEverything you need to revise for your GCSE 9-1 set text in a snap guideEverything you need to score top marks on your GCSE Grade English Literature exam is right at your fingertips! Revise The History Boys by Alan Bennett in a snap with this new GCSE Grade 9-1 Snap Revision Text Guide from Collins. Refresh your knowledge of the plot, context, characters and themes and pick up top tips along the way to ace your AQA exam. Each topic is explained in an easy-to-read format so you can get straight to the point. Then, put your skills to the test with plenty of practice questions included in every section. The Snap Text Guides are packed with every quote and extract you need. We've even included examples of how to plan and write your essay responses! This Collins English Literature revision guide contains all the key information you need to practise and pass.

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Book SynopsisExam Board: EdexcelLevel: GCSE Grade 9-1Subject: English LiteratureSuitable for the 2025 examsEverything you need to revise for your GCSE 9-1 set text in a snap guideEverything you need to score top marks on your GCSE Grade 9-1 English Literature exam is right at your fingertips! Revise Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson in a snap with this new GCSE Grade 9-1 Snap Revision Text Guide from Collins. Refresh your knowledge of the plot, context, characters and themes and pick up top tips along the way to ace your Edexcel exam. Each topic is explained in an easy-to-read format so you can get straight to the point. Then, put your skills to the test with plenty of practice questions included in every section. The Snap Text Guides are packed with every quote and extract you need. We've even included examples of how to plan and write your essay responses! This Collins English Literature revision guide contains all the key information you need to practise and pass.

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Book SynopsisCollins brings the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, to English language learners.Collins brings the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, to English language learners.Agatha Christie is the most widely published author of all time and in any language. Now Collins hasadapted her famous detective novels for English language learners. These readers have beencarefully adapted using the Collins COBUILD grading scheme to ensure that the language is at thecorrect level for an intermediate learner. This book is Level 4 in the Collins ELT Readers series. Level4 is equivalent to CEF level B2 with a word count of 20,000 26,000 words.Each book includes: Full reading of the adapted version available for free online Helpful notes on characters Cultural and historical notes relevant to the plot A glossary of the more difficult wordsWhen famous actress Marina Gregg buys Gossington Hall, she wastes no time in introducing herself and her husband to their new neighbours by throwing a charity fête. Everyone is enjoying seeing around the beautiful house and gardens, until tragedy strikes Heather Badcock has been poisoned. But who would want to kill Heather? And how, in the middle of a busy party, did they do it?

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Book Synopsis**SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020**From renowned, Pulitzer Prize-winning literary critic, Michiko Kakutani, comes an inspiring and gorgeously illustrated selection of the life-changing books that none of us should missWhy do we love books so much?'For legendary literary critic Michiko Kakutani, books have always been an escape and a sanctuary, the characters of some novels feeling so real to her childhood self that she worried they might leap out of the pages at night if she left the book cover open. In Ex Libris, she offers a personal selection of over 100 works of fiction, nonfiction and poetry, with passionate essays on why each has had a profound effect on her life.From Homer's The Odyssey to The Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale to Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan Novels, Ex Libris covers a rich and vast range of classics, old and new, that will help build a well-rounded reader and citizen of the world. With gor

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Book Synopsis24 brilliant texts to enrich your KS3 English curriculumWeave more representative and inclusive contemporary texts and writers into Key Stage 3 with this new anthology compiled by an expert panel of writers and teachers.Enable all students see themselves in or find a point of connection with the texts they are reading from the start of secondary schoolChoose from a diverse range of poetry, fiction extracts and non-fiction, including speeches and spoken sources to inspire students and help develop their writing skillsFeel confident to deliver rewarding and engaging lessons using the teaching guidance, context notes, language support and ready-made activitiesFully editable, downloadable and photocopiable so you can teach flexibly and share across the department

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Book SynopsisA celebration of all the weird and wonderful books to be found at an antiquarian bookshop.Books have the power to enrich the soul, to enliven the senses, to expand our horizons and others are simply mad. This wonderful celebration of the oddest books ever published is a treat for all bibliophiles, booksellers and fans of the bizarre. It is an exploration of the most eccentric titles and covers from our past, that have inexplicably fallen out of print but should never be forgotten.Gems include:Scouts in BondageFrog Raising for Pleasure and ProfitPremature Burial and How It May Be PreventedDrummer Dick's Discharge

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Book SynopsisHilary Spurling won the Rose Mary Crawshay Prize for The Early Life of Ivy Compton-Burnett 1884-1919, and the Duff Cooper Prize and Heinemann Award for Secrets of a Woman's Heart: The Later Life of Ivy Compton-Burnett 1920-1969. She is also the author of Elinor Fettiplace's Receipt Book, Paper Spirits and The Girl from the Fiction Department: A Portrait of Sonia Orwell. She has been Arts and Literary Editor of the Spectator, and a regular reviewer for the Observer, the New York Times and the Daily Telegraph.Trade ReviewHilary Spurling's exhaustive analysis of the novel's characters supplies a master-key for the reader -- Anthony Powell

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Book SynopsisJohn Crace''s ''Digested Read'' column in the Guardian has rightly acquired a cult following. Each week fans avidly devour his latest razor-sharp literary assassination, while authors turn tremblingly to the appropriate page of the review section, fearful that it may be their turn to be mercilessly sent up.Now he turns his critical eye on the classics of the last century, offering bite-sized pastiches of everything from Mrs Dalloway to Trainspotting via Lolita and The Great Gatsby. Those who have never quite got around to reading A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man will be delighted to find its essence distilled into a handful of paragraphs. Those who have never really enjoyed Lord of the Flies will be pleased to find it hilariously parodied in an easily swallowable 982 words. And those who find all such works a little highbrow will be relieved to discover, between the covers of this book, John Crace''s take on the likes of Ian Fleming, P. G. Wodehouse and the Highway Code.Witty and sharp, this is essential reading both for those who genuinely love literature and for those who merely want to appear ridiculously well read.Trade ReviewA swift kick up the backside to some of modern literature's most iconic works. Accurate, merciless and very, very funny -- Sarah WatersI've read all these books at least twice - and now I've read John Crace's digested versions I wonder why I bothered -- Will SelfA genius and a madman. The meanest, funniest parodist alive -- Joanna BriscoeFor the last 10 years [Crace's] 'Digested Reads' have been reason enough to buy the Guardian. Taking a well-known novel, he gives a brief distillation of the plot while capturing - often perfectly - the tone of its author. At the same time, he jabs a sharpened elbow into their pomposities and limitations * Spectator *Beautifully observed and poisonously cruel ... laugh-out-loud funny * The Lady *

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Book SynopsisWhy Read the Classics? is an elegant defence of the value of great literature by one of the finest authors of the last century. Beginning with an essay on the attributes that define a classic (number one - classics are those books that people always say they are ''rereading'', not ''reading''), this is an absorbing collection of Italo Calvino''s witty and passionate criticism.Trade ReviewEnthusiasm and intelligence: these are the essential qualities of the critic. Calvino, himself a novelist of rare quality, possessed both generously. This is a book to read for itself, and also because it will send you back to other books to read, either again in a new way, or for the first time... Superb * Daily Telegraph *This volume itself is a classic book at bedtime, a seductive invitation to forgotten opportunities or rereading * The Times *A master’s guidance on everything from the ancient Greeks to Ernest Hemingway, proving that “a classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say.” This timeless description applies to Calvino’s own books too -- John Self

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Book SynopsisShakespeare: A Playgoer''s & Reader''s Guide is your essential companion to all Shakespeare''s extant works (as well as those known to be lost). Two of our most eminent Shakespeare scholars guide us through his sonnets, his poems, and his plays, providing the reader with detailed scene-by-scene plot synopses, cast lists, notes on the texts and sources, discussions of artistic features, and accounts of significant productions on stage and screen.Derived from the acclaimed Oxford Companion to Shakespeare, and fully updated to reflect the latest scholarship and most recent notable productions, it is the ideal compact guide for students and theatre-goers needing a helpful plot summary, or readers wishing to browse on fascinating background information.Trade Review...crammed with information of the most detailed kind. One particularly magnificent section gives the entire chronology of every one of the families involved in the history plays... This is a book with no messing about. It gives its information clearly and in a pithy manner which enables the reader to absorb a great deal of information without too much cerebral effort...this little book has a wonderfully powerful kick. * ON: YORKSHIRE *A thorough and accessible resource... * Nick Smurthwaite, Drama & Theatre Magazine *Distilled and updated from OUP's earlier Oxford Companion to Shakespeare , this book would be a fine starting point for anyone wanting or needing to know more about the man and his work. * Susan Elkin, School Librarian *Table of ContentsPreface All Is True All's Well That Ends Well Antony and Cleopatra As You Like It Cardenio The Comedy of Errors Coriolanus Cymbeline Edward III First Part of the Contention of the Two Famous Houses of York and Lancaster (2 Henry VI) Hamlet Henry IV Part 1 Henry IV Part 2 Henry V Henry VI Part 1 Julius Caesar King John King Lear A Lover's Complaint Love's Labour's Lost Love's Labour's Won Macbeth Measure for Measure The Merchant of Venice The Merry Wives of Windsor A Midsummer's Night Dream Much Ado About Nothing Othello Pericles The Phoenix and the Turtle The Rape of Lucrece Richard Duke of York (3 Henry VI) Richard II Richard III Romeo and Juliet Sir Thomas More Sonnets The Taming of the Shrew The Tempest Timon of Athens Titus Andronicus Troilus and Cressida Twelfth Night The Two Gentlemen of Verona The Two Noble Kinsmen Venus and Adonis The Winter's Tale A Short Life of William Shakespeare Shakespeare's Life, Works, and Reception: A Partial Chronology, 1564-2020 Family Tree of Characters in the English Histories Some Suggested Further Reading

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Book SynopsisIs Shang-Chi Marvel''s ultimate fighter?Discover the fighting styles, training techniques, and secret disciplines of Marvel Comics'' mighty martial artists and hand-to-hand combatants. From disciples of Eastern combat tactics and mixed martial arts, to superpowered street fighters and deadly weapons masters, this book pulls no punches in revealing Marvel''s ultimate warriors. Learn about the distinctive skills, expertise, and classic clashes of Marvel''s most lethal martial artists. They are all here, beautifully illustrated with original comic art: Shang-Chi, Iron Fist, Elektra, Daredevil, Taskmaster, Gamora, Karnak, Black Widow, Bullseye, Master Izo, Fat Cobra, Steel Serpent, Mantis and many more.This is the Way of the Warrior. 2021 MARVEL

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Book SynopsisTravel the myriad worlds of the DC Multiverse. If you want to truly understand DC Comics, The DC Book is your one-stop guide to the DC Multiverse. This unique, insightful examination of a mind-boggling comics universe takes readers on a compelling journey from the dawn of Super Heroes to the formation of the Dark Multiverse... and beyond.Meticulously researched and expertly written, The DC Book is packed with stunning comics artwork, illuminating infographics, and incisive, specially curated essays that shed new light on the ever-evolving DC Multiverse. From the world''s finest Super Heroes such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, to iconic villains like the Joker, Lex Luthor, and Darkseid, to mythic realms like Apokolips and Themyscira, to cosmic energies like The Source and The Speed Force, The DC Book explores the key concepts, characters, and events that have defined and shaped DC Comics over the past 80 years.Divided into key subject areas, i

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Book SynopsisSuper Hero. Leader. Avenger. One of Marvel Comics most inspiring characters is all this and so much more. With a foreword by the equally legendary Stan Lee, Captain America: The Ultimate Guide: New Edition celebrates the 80th Anniversary of the iconic Captain America. Delve into the long and storied history of the First Avenger, from his service in World War II through to the earth-shattering events of the Infinity Wars and Empyre.Discover the origins of Captain America and how he joined the Avengers. Learn about his first encounters with his courageous allies, including Peggy Carter, Winter Soldier, and Falcon, and his epic clashes with villains such as Baron Zemo and Red Skull. Iconic, brave, and principled, Captain America has become one of Marvel Comics'' most beloved Super Heroes. Expertly written and lavishly illustrated, no Marvel or Captain America fan will want to miss this indispensable guide. 2021 MARVEL

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Book SynopsisWho had birds called Death, Wigs and Spinach? How do you spell the noise of a door slamming? Whose working title was The Chronic Argonauts?Henry Eliot - author, editor and insatiable bookworm - has ransacked the libraries and archives of world literature, compiling hundreds of bookish lists. This eclectic gallimaufry showcases his favourites: we witness the tragic ends of the Ancient Greek tragedians, learn the name of George Orwell''s pet cockerel and rummage through Joan Didion''s travelling bag; we consider the history of literary fart jokes, orbit the Shakespearean moons of Uranus and meet several pigs with wings. From the sublime to the ridiculous - and everything in between ­- Eliot''s lists, recommendations and nuggets of trivia will delight, inspire and surprise anyone who loves reading.Beautifully presented with supplementary maps and illustrations, Henry Eliot''s Book of Bookish Lists is the essential gift for book-lovers.Trade ReviewI loved this so much. Lists for bookish folk, filled with things I had not known or dreamed -- Neil GaimanTotally enthralling... The perfect bedside book -- Jilly CooperAn eccentric idea beautifully executed -- Louis de BernièresIf there was a list of books about lists, Eliot's Book of Bookish Lists would be top -- Philip PullmanAn absolute delight - Borges meets Buzzfeed -- Tom HollandA gorgeous confection . . . How do I love this book? Let me list the ways . . . -- Chris RiddellBrimful of piquant and scrumptious surprises -- John LloydHours of innocent snacking -- Iain SinclairVery entertaining and sprightly -- Ian McKellenThoroughly enjoyable... As amusing as it is informing -- Michael PortilloBuried deep in the etymology of the word 'list' is the notion of pleasure. Mr Eliot's marvellous vade mecum reminds us why -- John MitchinsonI loved Eliot's book for its wit, learning, eccentricity and unrepentant bookishness -- Alan TaylorA magnificent labyrinth of literary trivia to get lost in . . . fun and fascinating things on every page -- Edward Brooke-HitchingA trove of treasures from start to finish -- Dennis DuncanDeliciously idiosyncratic -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *Reading this book is like going on a literary Grand Tour . . . Essential for the pub quiz * Country Life *Eliot's books have been my equivalent of big game almanacs. This book is half a delight and half a gauntlet -- Stuart Kelly * Scotsman *The ultimate book for lovers of lists and literature . . . surprising, inspiring and amusing -- Denise O'Donoghue * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisLOOKING FOR A GIFT FOR THE BOOKWORM IN YOUR LIFE? THIS QUIZ BOOK IS IT!Which Haruki Murakami novel shares its title with a Beatles song? In Roald Dahl''s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, what is Charlie''s surname? What is heavy-drinking Rachel Watson known as in the title of a 21st-century bestseller? And what do you get if you add the number of Bennet sisters in Jane Austen''s Pride and Prejudice to the number of Karamazov brothers in Fyodor Dostoevsky''s The Brothers Karamazov?With four hundred questions covering books from literary classics to modern bestsellers, through iconic children''s books and books you say that you''ve read but really you haven''t, The Penguin Book Quiz is as appropriate for making you look well-read at a party as it is for a book-loving family to tuck into after Christmas dinner: it''s as enjoyable to read as it is to play.Featuring the work of everyone from Antony Beevor to Zadie Smith, books from The Very Hungry Caterpillar to Ulysses, and with movie, music, television, theatre and literary references abounding, this entertaining quiz tickles the fancy (and the brains) of light and heavy readers alike.Answers:- Norwegian Wood- Bucket- The Girl on the Train- Eight (five sisters, three brothers)''Unceasingly enormous fun'' Alan Connor, author of The Joy of Quiz''I''ll definitely be buying copies of this book as gifts'' Emma Healey, author of Elizabeth is Missing''The greatest social lubricant since the invention of alcohol'' John Preston, author of A Very English ScandalTrade ReviewTip: Start the day with a quiz. My long-suffering partner bought me James Walton's The Penguin Book Quiz for Christmas. It wakes you up, gives you a laugh and makes you feel like you're not wasting your time, because you're learning things -- Jacqueline Wilson * The Sunday Times *Detailed, entertaining and wonderfully informative, a must-have for quiz aficionados and bibliophiles alike * Kevin Ashman *It's so much fun. The perfect level for keen but not necessarily expert readers. Specific enough to make you reach back into your memory and occasionally kick yourself at not finding the answer, but not so specialised that you want to give up . . . I'll definitely be buying copies of this book as giftsFew quiz questions make you smile, laugh or gasp. James Walton's always do. The Penguin Book Quiz is unceasingly enormous funQuite possibly the greatest social lubricant since the invention of alcohol. An absolute delightAttractively presented in vintage Penguin livery, this is the ultimate literary quiz, packed full of questions on everyone from Dickens to Dahl. With such a broad range of genres and topics covered, The Penguin Book Quiz really is the perfect antidote to tired parlour games and awkward small talk this Christmas * Waterstones, Top 10 Gifts for Bookworms this Christmas *The perfect gift for the sort of person (like me) who shouts the answers at University ChallengeFiendish, funny and endlessly surprising, James Walton has provided the perfect volume for anyone who loves books, relishes a quiz or just fancies showing off at a dinner partyA must for those who think they know their literature . . . includes the unexpected, alongside the more serious * Independent on 'Sonnets, Bonnets & Bennetts' *How nice it would be if the family would sit around the Boxing Day fireside considering the questions in affable competition * Daily Telegraph on 'Sonnets, Bonnets & Bennetts' *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The Aesop's Fable Paradigm is interdisciplinarity at its best: a genuine dialogue between the sciences and the humanities that not only undermines the notion of an unbridgeable divide between "the two cultures" but also offers fascinating insights into the sociology of science. In addition to its important scholarly insights, we are given an insider's view on how scientific work actually gets done, which makes it an excellent teaching resource. As an added bonus, the book is a pleasure to read: it's both playful and witty, but also deadly serious, and it never pulls its punches."—Louise Barrett, University of Lethbridge"An impressively collaborative, interdisciplinary (and quite often funny!) set of essays that illustrate concretely not only how scientists anthropomorphize animals and draw on folkloric constructs in their research design and conclusions, but also how scientists need folklorists to help them sort it out. A must-read for anyone interested in the overlaps and little-understood connections between folklore and science."—Lisa Gabbert, author of Winter Carnival in a Western Town: Identity, Change, and the Good of the Community"Like the coyotes and badgers of native Western folklore that collaborate to ferret prey from their safe burrows, a scientist and a folklorist unite to ferret comparative psychology from its reliance on non-diagnostic experiments into a more enlightened era of self-reflection.The Aesop's Fable Paradigm provides an opportunity for engaging scholars with the challenges of designing a study of animal cognition that probes species-unique cognitive processes rather than continuing to debate how human-like nonhumans can be"—Jennifer Vonk, Oakland UniversityTable of ContentsPrefaceIntroduction: The Perplexities of Water, by K. Brandon Barker and Daniel J. Povinelli1. The Animal Question as Folklore in Science, by K. Brandon Barker2. The Early Tradition of the Crow and the Pitcher, by William Hansen3. Going Meta: Retelling the Scientific Retelling of Aesop's the Crow and the Pitcher, by Laura Hennefield, Hyesung G. Hwang, and Daniel J. Povinelli4. Anthropomorphomania and the Rise of the Animal Mind: A Conversation, by K. Brandon Barker and Daniel J. Povinelli5. Fabling Gestures in Expository Science, by Gregory SchremppConclusion: Old Ideas and the Science of Animal Folklore, by K. Brandon Barker and Daniel J. PovinelliAppendix: Doctor Fomomindo's Preliminary Notes for a Future Index of Anthropomorphized Animal Behaviors, by Daniel J. Povinelli, K. Brandon Barker, Marisa Wieneke, and Kristina DownsIndex

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisVladimir E. Alexandrov advocates a broad revision of the academic study of literature, proposing an adaptive, text-specific approach designed to minimize the circularity of interpretation inherent in the act of reading. He illustrates this method with the example of Tolstoy's classic novel, Anna Karenina, via a detailed “map” of the different possible readings that the novel can support.Trade ReviewA major contribution to Tolstoy studies. ... Essential."" - Choice""I find this book particularly attractive because it is rooted in formalist and structuralist theory, skeptical about both the premises and the results of much (especially American) later criticism, and respectful of the text of Anna Karenina."" - Slavic Review""Alexandrov does not insist on the resolution of the novel's basic contradictions but leaves it to his reader what to make of Anna Karenina: a work whose tumult of meanings ultimately undoes it or makes it mysterious and rich, like life."" - Modern Philology

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Book SynopsisThrough systematic and detailed readings of Futurist texts, James Rann offers the first book-length study of the tensions between the outspoken literary group and Aleksandr Pushkin. Rann's analysis contributes to the understanding of both the Futurists and Pushkin's complex legacy.Trade ReviewElegantly written and convincingly argued. The Unlikely Futurist provides for the first time a comprehensive account of the complex relationship between Russian Futurism, on the one hand, and Pushkin and his myth, on the other." - Daria Khitrova, Harvard University"An extremely intelligent, well-polished study of Russian Futurism's treatment of Pushkin as both a historical burden to be thrown from the 'steamship of modernity' and a source of inspiration for the Futurist, avant-garde project of reinvigorating Russian and Soviet poetry. The Unlikely Futurist dazzles." - Tim Harte, Bryn Mawr College

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