Literary studies: fiction Books

Book SynopsisNo marriage of a major twentieth-century writer is quite as beguiling as that of Vladimir Nabokov’s to Véra Slonim. She shared his delight at the enchantment of life’s trifles and literature’s treasures, and he rated her as having the best and quickest sense of humor of any woman he had met. From their first encounter in 1923, Vladimir’s letters to Véra chronicle a half-century-long love story, one that is playful, romantic, and memorable. At the same time, the letters reveal much about their author. We see the infectious fascination with which Vladimir observed everything—animals, people, speech, landscapes and cityscapes—and glimpse his ceaseless work on his poems, plays, stories, novels, memoirs, screenplays, and translations. This delightful volume is enhanced by twenty-one photographs, as well as facsimiles of the letters and the puzzles and drawings Vladimir often sent to Véra. With 8 pages of photographs and 47 illustrations in text

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Book SynopsisContains a selection of the author's letters and notes expressing his opinions on the publication of Tom Sawyer.Trade Review"The University of California Press has presented everything needed to understand Twain and his works. It has made him the most accessible of major American writers, the most thoroughly documented." * Chicago Sun-Times *"The Mark Twain Project looms over the landscape of literary scholarship like Mount Everest." * San Francisco Chronicle *Table of ContentsILLUSTRATIONS FOREWORD THE WRITING OF TOM SAWYER THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER Preface 1. Y -o-u-u Tom-Aunt Polly Decides Upon her Duty- Tom Practices Music-The Challenge-A Private Entrance 2. Strong Temptations-Strategic Movements-The Innocents Beguiled 3. Tom as a General-Triumph and Reward-Dismal Felicity-Commission and Omission 4. Mental Acrobatics-Attending Sunday-School-The Superintendent-"Showing off"-Tom Lionized 5. A Useful Minister-In Church-The Climax 6. Self-Examination-Dentistry-The Midnight Charm- Witches and Devils-Cautious Approaches-Happy Hours 7. A Treaty Entered Into-Early Lessons-A Mistake Made 8. Tom Decides on his Course-Old Scenes Re-enacted 9. A Solemn Situation-Grave Subjects Introduced- Injun Joe Explains 10. The Solemn Oath-Terror Brings Repentance- Mental Punishment 11. Muff Potter Comes Himself-Tom's Conscience at Work 12. Tom Shows his Generosity-Aunt Polly Weakens 13. The Young Pirates-Going to the Rendezvous-The Camp-Fire Talk 14. Camp-Life-A Sensation-Tom Steals Away from Camp 15. Tom Reconnoiters-Learns the Situation-Reports at Camp 16. A Day's Amusements-Tom Reveals a Secret-The Pirates take a Lesson-A Night Surprise-An Indian War 17. Memories of the Lost Heroes-The Point in Tom's Secret 18. Tom's Feelings Investigated-Wonderful Dream- Becky Thatcher Overshadowed-Tom Becomes Jealous-Black Revenge 19. Tom Tells the Truth 20. Becky in a Dilemma-Tom's Nobility Asserts Itself 21. Youthful Eloquence- Compositions by the Young Ladies-A Lengthy Vision- The Boys' Vengeance Satisfied 22. Tom's Confidence Betrayed-Expects Signal Punishment 23. Old Muff's Friends- Muff Potter in Court-Muff Potter Saved 24. Tom as the Village Hero- Days of Splendor and Nights of Horror-Pursuit of Injun Joe 25. About Kings and Diamonds-Search for the Treasure -Dead People and Ghosts 26. The Haunted House-Sleepy Ghosts-A Box of Gold -Bitter Luck 27. Doubts to be Settled-The Young Detectives 28. An Attempt at No. Two- Huck Mounts Guard 29. The Pic-nic-Huck on Injun Joe's Track-The "Revenge" Job-Aid for the Widow 30. The Welchman Reports- Huck Under Fire- The Story Circulated- A New Sensation- Hope Giving Way to Despair 31. An Exploring Expedition- Trouble Commences- Lost in the Cave-Total Darkness-Found but not Saved 32. Tom tells the Story of their Escape-Tom's Enemy in Safe Quarters 33 . The Fate of Injun Joe-Huck and Tom Compare Notes-An Expedition to the Cave-Protection Against Ghosts-"An Awful Snug Place"-A Reception at the Widow Douglas's 34. Springing a Secret-Mr. Jones' Surprise a Failure 35. A New Order of Things-Poor Huck-New Adventures Planned Conclusion EXPLANATORY NOTES SOURCES FOR CHARACTERS NOTE ON THE TEXT

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Book SynopsisErnest Miller Hemingway was born in Chicago in 1899 as the son of a doctor and the second of six children. After a stint as an ambulance driver at the Italian front, Hemingway came home to America in 1919, only to return to the battlefield this time as a reporter on the Greco-Turkish war in 1922. Resigning from journalism to focus on his writing instead, he moved to Paris where he renewed his earlier friendship with fellow American expatriates such as Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein. Through the years, Hemingway travelled widely and wrote avidly, becoming an internationally recognized literary master of his craft. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954, following the publication of The Old Man and the Sea. He died in 1961.Trade ReviewReading A Moveable Feast is a little like sitting down to a banquet with a host of bohemian luminaries * Observer *Here is Hemingway at his best. No one has ever written about Paris in the nineteen twenties as well as Hemingway * New York Times *The first thing to say about the 'restored' edition so ably and attractively produced by Patrick and Sean Hemingway is that it does live up to its billing . . . well worth having * The Atlantic *The Paris sketches are absolutely controlled, far enough removed in time so that the scenes and characters are observed in tranquillity, and yet with astonishing immediacy - his remarkable gift - so that many have the hard brilliance of his best fiction * New York Herald Tribune *The first thing to say about the 'restored' edition so ably and attractively produced by Patrick and Sean Hemingway is that it does live up to its billing . . . well worth having * Christopher Hitchens, "The Atlantic" *

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Book SynopsisThis book makes the case for a re-placing of Lamb as reader, writer and friend in the midst of the lively political and literary scene of the 1790s. Reading his little-known early works alongside others by the likes of Coleridge and Wordsworth, it allows a revealing insight into the creative dynamics of early Romanticism.Trade ReviewShortlisted for the CCUE Book Prize 2010 'Charles Lamb, Coleridge and Wordsworth contributes a serious revaluation of Lamb's reputation, and deals comprehensively and deftly with the important field of Romantic friendship and networks in their psychological and political aspects. Often using colourful anecdotes to illuminate more general analysis, Felicity James's book is a mature and elegant work which makes a genuine contribution to Romantic scholarship.' - R. S. White, Professor of English and Cultural Studies, University of Western Australia 'Charles Lamb, Coleridge and Wordsworth is a great achievement. It is a paean to the profitable complexity of friendship in a time when talk among friends could potentially result in charges of sedition, or in the mass-production of verse with which we are still familiar.' - John Regan, University of Cambridge 'This outstanding book approaches 'reading friendship in the 1790s' by reading Charles Lamb alongside his friends and fellow-writers... James traces the intertwined friendships and examines their turning points and crises in a series of consistently superb close readings...admirable and inspiring...' - Alison Hickey, Review of English StudiesTable of ContentsList of Abbreviations Introduction: Placing Lamb PART I: IDEALISING FRIENDSHIP 'Frendotatoi meta frendous': Constructing Friendship in the 1790s Rewritings of Friendship, 1796-1797 PART II: DOUBTING FRIENDSHIP The 'Day of Horrors', 1796 'Cold, cold, cold': Loneliness and Reproach Blank Verse and Fears in Solitude PART III: RECONSTRUCTING FRIENDSHIP A Text of Friendship: Rosamund Gray Sympathy, Allusion and Experiment in John Woodvil The Urban Romantic: Lamb's Landscapes of Affection Index

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Book SynopsisThese three works of fiction - two by Mary Wollstonecraft, the radical author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, and one by her daughter Mary Shelley, creator of Frankenstein - are powerfully emotive stories that combine passion with forceful feminist argument. In Mary Wollstonecraft''s Mary, the heroine flees her young husband in order to nurse her dearest friend, Ann, and finds genuine love, while Maria tells of a desperate young woman who seeks consolation in the arms of another man after the loss of her child. And Mary Shelley''s Matilda - suppressed for over a century - tells the story of a woman alienated from society by the incestuous passion of her father. Humane, compassionate and highly controversial, these stories demonstrate the strongly original genius of their authors.

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Book SynopsisFeatures a collection of facts and insights into the life and times of the great novelist and the attitudes and customs that shaped both her and her work. This title looks at the facts of author's life and times, as well as stories about her novels, including: the marriage proposal that Austen accepted, only to change her mind, and more.

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Book SynopsisJane Austen''s reputation rests on the six novels she wrote in her short life - enduringly popular novels which have become part of the fabric of English life, and which have reached new audiences through recent dramatisations on screen and stage. This book, which draws on her letters, describes Jane''s life in the vicarage at Steventon and later at Bath and Chawton, and her relationships with family and friends - especially her beloved sister, Cassandra, and the engaging Tom Lefroy (who it was rumoured was the love of her life). It also describes the parties and balls in country houses and assembly rooms which she attended and the detail of nineteenth-century life which she so sharply observed and which provided the background to her novels. This book is a pleasure for anyone wanting to understand the life of one of our great novelists.

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Book SynopsisFor daring to peer into the heart of an adulteress and enumerate its contents with profound dispassion, the author of Madame Bovary was tried for 'offenses against morality and religion.' What shocks us today about Flaubert's devastatingly realized tale of a young woman destroyed by the reckless pursuit of her romantic dreams is its pure artistry: the poise of its narrative structure, the opulence of its prose (marvelously captured in the English translation of Francis Steegmuller), and its creation of a world whose minor figures are as vital as its doomed heroine. In reading Madame Bovary, one experiences a work that remains genuinely revolutionary almost a century and a half after its creation.

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Book SynopsisOne of the world's most original works of fiction from one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. • No one ever wrote better about the power struggles of sex and love. —Doris Lessing, Nobel Prize-winning Author of The Golden Notebook Gertrude Morel is a refined woman who married beneath her and has come to loathe her brutal, working-class husband. She focuses her passion instead on her two sons, who return her love and despise their father. Trouble begins when Paul Morel, a budding artist, falls in love with a young woman who seems capable of rivaling his mother for possession of his soul. In the ensuing battle, he finds his path to adulthood tragically impeded by the enduring power of his mother’s grasp. SONS AND LOVERS confirmed Lawrence’s genius and inaugurated the controversy over his explicit writing about sexuality and human relationships that would follow him to the end of his career.

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Book SynopsisWhen Silas Marner is wrongly accused of crime and expelled from his community, he vows to turn his back upon the world. He moves to the village of Raveloe, where he remains an outsider and an object of suspicion until an extraordinary sequence of events, including the theft of his gold and the appearance of a tiny, golden-haired child in his cottage, transforms his life. Part beautifully realized rural portraiture and part fairy tale, the story of Marner’s redemption and restoration to humanity has long been George Eliot’s most beloved and widely read work.The isolated, misanthropic, miserly weaver Silas Marner is one of George Eliot’s greatest creations, and his presence casts a strange, otherworldly glow over the moral dramas, both large and small, that take place in the pastoral landscape that surrounds him.Introduction by Rosemary Ashton

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Book SynopsisThe more than 600 stories written by O. Henry provided an embarrassment of riches for the compilers of this volume.  The final selection of the thirty-eight stories in this collection offers for the reader's delight those tales honored almost unanimously by anthologists and those that represent, in variety and balance, the best work of America's favorite storyteller.  They are tales in his most mellow, humorous, and ironic moods.  They give the full range and flavor of the man born William Sydney Porter but known throughout the world as O. Henry, one of the great masters of the short story.

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Book SynopsisA lavishly illustrated guide to the A Song of Ice and Fire universe traces the pre-historical period and the coming of the First Men through the reign of the Targaryen kings and Robert''s Rebellion. 75,000 first printing. TV tie-in.

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Book SynopsisMario Vargas Llosa''s A Fish in the Water is a twofold book: a memoir by one of Latin America''s most celebrated writers, beginning with his birth in 1936 in Arequipa, Peru; and the story of his organization of the reform movement which culminated in his bid for the Peruvian presidency in 1990.Llosa evokes the experiences which gave rise to his fiction, and describes the social, literary, and political influences that led him to enter the political arena as a crusader for a free-market economy.A deeply absorbing look at how fact becomes fiction and at the formation of a courageous writer with strong political commitments, A Fish in the Water reveals Mario Vargas Llosa as a world figure whose real story is just beginning.

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Book SynopsisTells of the relationship between Arthur Conan Doyle and the Strand Magazine, the aftermath of the success of Sherlock Holmes and the impact of that on both author and publication as they moved into the early twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisThis book reappraises Dickens's Memoirs of Joseph Grimaldi and his imaginative engagement with its principal protagonist.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Shortlisted for the Prize for Literary Scholarship, Australian University Heads of English"

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Book SynopsisAn innovative cultural history of the most influential, most frequently translated and most imitated novel in the world.Trade Review"This enjoyable book, a fast and fun read, informs us deeply about [Don Quixote]. As such, it is a model work of criticism. It sends us back to the original work, eager and informed and moved to reread it or read it for the first time." -- Tim Redman - Dallas Morning News "A combination of celebration, meditation, and quest, Stavans's book is bound to please el Quijote's devoted readers and win new fans." -- Publishers Weekly "Bold, imaginative, and deeply learned... Stavans, one of our most gifted scholars of Hispanic literature, has arrived to narrate the tale of how modernity was birthed amid the whirl of windmills and all those chasing them." -- Henry Louis Gates Jr., Alphonse Fletcher University Professor, Harvard University "Stavans brings infections enthusiasm and penetrating scholarship to this lively investigation of a grand novel and its readers." -- Kirkus Reviews "If, like me, you live with the guilt of not having read Don Quixote of La Mancha, this delightful romp will inspire you to act. It is a splendid work of historiography that looks at the knight's influence on just about everything-including the Muppets. Ilan Stavans delivers another keen-eyed, delightful tour de force." -- Barry Moser, illustrator of The Pennyroyal Caxton Bible "Ilan Stavans, like Cervantes, tells stories of errantry: of his own travels with and through the book, of El Quijote's journey across and around the world, of the characters' voyages through the imaginations of creators and re-creators. The result is as engaging, funny, readable, and illuminating as the book it's about: an idiosyncratic yet amazingly comprehensive companion, which all readers of El Quijote will want." -- Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, author of Millennium: A History of Our Last Thousand Years and 1492: The Year the World Began "A masterly history of Don Quixote that approaches the book from multiple angles: literary, historical, cultural, linguistic, and personal. Ilan Stavans has given us a compelling, readable, and often humorous portrait of the book and its author." -- Laila Lalami, author of The Moor's Account "In this sparkling narrative, Ilan Stavans takes us on an exploration of a novel he reveres... A fascinating, deeply enjoyable read." -- Jon Lee Anderson, author of Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life "The impression is of abundant intelligence poured into a vessel whose aim is not tidy scholarship but joyous insight. Book lovers will relish this expansive and generous tome." -- Library Journal "Expertly connects Cervantes' satire of then-popular novels of chivalry to the political climate of the time... The combination of cultural analysis, textual examination, and enthusiastic commentary makes for an excellent primer to celebrate this momentous anniversary [of Quixote's publication.]" -- Booklist

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Book SynopsisThe short story has been integral to the development of Caribbean literature, and continues to offer possibilities for invention and reinvigoration. As the most comprehensive study of its kind, this important and timely volume explores the significance of the short story form to Caribbean cultural production across the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The twenty original essays collected here offer a unique set of inquiries and insights into the historical, cultural and stylistic characteristics of Caribbean short story writing. The book draws together diverse critical perspectives from established and emerging scholars, including Shirley Chew, Alison Donnell, James Procter, Raymond Ramcharitar and Elaine Savory. Essays cover the publishing histories of specific islands; intersections of the local, global and diasporic; treatments of race and gender; language, orality and genre; and cultural contexts from tourism to calypso to cricket.Mark McWatt is the recently retired Professor of West Indian literature at UWI, Cave Hill. He is joint editor of the Oxford Book of Caribbean Verse(2005).The EditorsDr Lucy Evans is Lecturer in Postcolonial Literature at the University of Leicester. She has published a number of articles on Caribbean and black British writing, and is currently completing a monograph entitled Communities in Contemporary Caribbean Short Stories.Emma Smith has a PhD in narrative theory and contemporary fiction from the University of Leeds. She has lectured in post/colonial literature and history at Leeds and Leeds Metropolitan universities and currently works on the editorial team at Peepal Tree.

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Book SynopsisSurprising though it may seem, this is the first full-scale scholarly commentary in English on Virgil''s Eclogues. Written between about 42 and 35 BC, these ten short pastorals are among the best known poems in Latin literature. They have inspired numerous poets - Sidney, Ronsard, and others - and at the same time have held enduring fascination among scholars for their sophistaicated and allusive blend of Theocritean idyll and contemporary Roman history. Professor Clausen''s commentary will provide a comprehensive guide to the poems and the considerable scholarship surrounding them, and should be indispensable to all serious students of Virgil''s poetry. Special attention is paid throughout the commentary to the important question of Virgil''s use of Theocritus and other Hellenistic poets, with translations provided of all Greek passages. There are many new and illuminating observations on Virgil''s poetic style and vocabulary, often with reference to his Latin predecessors: Lucretius,Trade Reviewhas been long awaited and has much to offer. On matters of Latinity and details of interpretation he is clear and cogent; particularly welcome is the use made of Plautus and Lucretius...The book shows a feeling for poetry and nature that makes it a worthy companion to Mynors's Georgics. * R.G.M.Nisbet, Corpus Christi College, Oxford *Clausen does indeed supplement existing commentaries in some valuable ways, and serious Vergilian scholars will certainly want to avail themselves of this new resource. * The Classical Journal *This is a full and scholarly commentary of the old-fashioned kind (in the best sense of the word!), in fact "surprisingly, the first full scale scholarly eommentary in English on the Eclogues"....This is certainly an important and necessary book for the teacher and university student.. * JACT review *

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Book SynopsisFor thirty years, the Oxford C.S. Lewis Society has met weekly in the medieval colleges of the University of Oxford. During that time, it has hosted as speakers nearly all those still living who were associated with the Inklings--the Oxford literary circle led by C.S. Lewis--, as well as authors and thinkers of a prominence that nears Lewis''s own.C.S. Lewis and His Circle offers the reader a chance to join this unique group. Roger White has worked with Society past-presidents Brendan and Judith Wolfe to select the best unpublished talks, which are here made available to the public for the first time. They exemplify the best of traditional academic essays, thoughtful memoirs, and informal reminiscences about C.S. Lewis and his circle. The reader will re-imagine Lewis''s Cosmic Trilogy with former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams; read philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe''s final word on Lewis''s arguments for Christianity; hear the Reverend Peter Bide''s memories of marrying Lewis and Joy Davidman in an Oxford hospital; and learn about Lewis''s Narnia Chronicles from his former secretary.Representing the finest of both personal and scholarly engagement with C.S. Lewis and the Inklings, the talks collected here set a new tone for engagement with this iconic Oxford literary circle--a tone close to Lewis''s own Oxford-bred sharpness and wryness, seasoned with good humor and genuine affection for C.S. Lewis and his circle.Trade ReviewThe quality of the essays is, as you would expect in the context, very high and yet each of them remains accessible to the reader. * Methodist Recorder *You need not be a dedicated Lewis fan to enjoy this collection, though such will welcome it; there is much to interest the general reader and, perhaps, to introduce themes from Lewis' life and work to those who might not expect to find or like them. * The Tablet *rich and varied collection * Theology *It is difficult to say which essays, which memoirs, are most enjoyable * Weekly Standard *C. S. Lewis and His Circle is strongest as a collective memoir and will appeal to those looking for a picture of the man from those who knew him well. Certainly, Narnia enthusiasts will find something here albeit hidden behind texts they might not find as appealing to start with * Concatenation *... this welcome collection ... will have an important place in Lewis studies. * The Glass *incisive essays ... C.S. Lewis and His Circle offers something for every reader * Touchstone *Table of ContentsForeword, Gregory & Suzanne Wolfe (Founders of the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society) ; Preface, Roger White, Judith Wolfe, and Brendan Wolfe ; Author Biographies ; Part I. Essays ; Philosophy & Theology ; C. S. Lewis, Defender of the Faith, Alister McGrath (Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion, University of Oxford) ; C. S. Lewis' Rewrite of Chapter III of 'Miracles', Elizabeth Anscombe (Leading twentieth-century philosopher) ; C. S. Lewis and the Limits of Reason, Stephen Logan (Musician, poet; Principal Supervisor in English, Clare College, Cambridge) ; Sacramentalism in C. S. Lewis and Charles Williams, Kallistos Ware (Metropolitan Bishop of Diocleia; Spalding Lecturer in Eastern Orthodox Studies (Emeritus), University of Oxford) ; Charles Williams and the Problem of Evil, Paul Fiddes (Professor of Systematic Theology, Oxford University) ; Literature ; 'That Hideous Strength': A Reassessment, Rowan Williams (Baron Williams of Oystermouth, Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, previously 104th Archbishop of Canterbury) ; Yearning for a Far Off Country, Malcolm Guite (Poet, singer-songwriter; Chaplain at Girton College, Cambridge) ; W. H. Auden and the Inklings, Michael Piret (Dean of Divinity, Magdalen College, Oxford) ; The Lewis Diaries: C. S. Lewis and the English Faculty in the 1920's, Thomas Shippey (Walter J. Ong Chair of Humanities (Emeritus), Saint Louis University) ; It All Began with a Picture: The Making of C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, Walter Hooper (Editor and biographer of C. S. Lewis; literary advisor to the C. S. Lewis Estate) ; II. Memoirs ; Memories of C. S. Lewis by his Family and Friends ; The Lewis Family, Joan Murphy (A Lewis Family Cousin) ; Recollections of Lewis, George Sayer (Former student, friend, and biographer of C. S. Lewis) ; Lewis as a Parishioner, Ronald Head (Formerly Vicar of Holy Trinity Church Headington Quarry, where C. S. Lewis attended) ; Marrying C. S. Lewis, Peter Bide (Friend and priest of C. S. Lewis, officiate of Lewis's marriage to Joy Davidman) ; Memories of the Socratic Club, Stella Aldwinckle (Founder of the Oxford Socratic Club) ; Memories of the Inklings ; The Inklings, Walter Hooper (Editor and biographer of C. S. Lewis; literary advisor to the C. S. Lewis Estate) ; Lewis and/or Barfield, Owen Barfield (Friend of C. S. Lewis, Inklings member, solicitor, philosopher, poet) ; Brothers and Friends: The Diaries of W. H. Lewis, John Wain (Friend of C. S. Lewis, Inklings member, poet, novelist) ; Nevill Coghill and Lewis: Two Irishmen at Oxford, John Wain (Friend of C. S. Lewis, Inklings member, poet, novelist) ; Afterword,A Brief History of the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society Michael Ward (Senior Member of the Oxford C. S. Lewis Society) ; Index

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Book SynopsisBrimming with humor, ideas, and opinions, this title delves into Mark Twain's life, uncovering the many roles he played in his private and public worlds.Trade Review"The great American author, aided by his scholarly editors, continues to spin out a great yarn covering his long life... Twain admirers will find this volume indispensable and wil eagerly await the third volume." STARRED REVIEW Kirkus Reviews "Meticulously edited... A treasure deserving shelf space next to Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer." STARRED REVIEW -- Bryce Christensen Booklist "Twain is incapable of going more than a few paragraphs without making you laugh or think hard... Don't loan this book out: you'll never see it again." Bloomberg Pursuits "Another delightful round of humor and candor, reminiscence and insider sketches of the people and politics of Twain's day." The Sacramento Bee "Contains more of Twain's ranging, astute, and unfailingly candid portrayals of his private and public lives. Excoriations of politicians appear next to affectionate family stories and bemused observations on the absurdities of life, helping to fill out our understanding of America's greatest humorist." The New Yorker, Page-Turner "Set aside all ideas of starting at the beginning and reading through to the end. This is a book to keep on your bedside table, or in the kitchen, or the garage, or anyplace else you might want to pick it up. Follow Clemens' own advice in reading it, as he did in writing it: Start reading at no particular point; wander at your free will all over it; read only about the thing that interests you for the moment; drop it the moment its interest threatens to pale; and turn your eye upon the new and more interesting thing that has intruded itself into your gaze meantime. Believe me, there are plenty of these in this wonderful volume." The Hartford Courant "One sees a mind bubbling and hears a uniquely American voice." Literary Review "Twain traveled extensively and befriended many luminaries, and his colorful experiences give the book the same Dickensian scope as the first volume, and presents a vivid picture of America in the 19th century and Twain's indelible mark on it." Publishers Weekly "This is vintage Twain-timeless, and still germane." BookPage "Twain is frequently sad and cynical in these late-in-life writings (just a few years before his death) but his devastating wit and sharp-eyed commentary are on full display as well." Christian Science Monitor "The publishing sensation of the year." -- Jonah Raskin San Francisco Chronicle "What we've inherited is no ordinary book. You may begin at the beginning and read to its end; you may reach into it like a grab bag and enjoy whatever you pull out. It doesn't matter." Dallas Morning News "Twain ambles through eternal truths and trivia, telling of world events and personal piques. Witticisms appear at random intervals, and the ensuing laughter can be dangerous to the lower extremities if one doesn't have a vicelike grip on this weighty tome." The Christian Science Monitor "In case you had any doubt about it, the new book demonstrates that Twain dictated as well as he wrote." The Washington Post "One of the more marvelous literary projects of our time." The Buffalo News "As much a sensitive and articulate historical work as an autobiography, the book is almost inexhaustible in its content... What seems like a mountain of anecdotal scraps and opinions results in a clear picture of Clemens as Twain." Library Journal "If you surrender yourself to the sound of his voice, the pleasure of Twain's company proves pretty hard to resist. His narrative may be loose, but at least it never loses sight of its subject." The New Yorker, Page-TurnerTable of ContentsList of Dictations Acknowledgments AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MARK TWAIN Explanatory Notes Appendixes Samuel L. Clemens: A Brief Chronology Family Biographies Previous Publication Note on the Text Word Division in This Volume References Index Photographs

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Book SynopsisThe letters, many previously unpublished, of Volume 4 (April 19291931) trace Hemingway's ascendency to international renown. From the publication of A Farewell to Arms to the completion of his ground-breaking treatise on bullfighting, Death in the Afternoon, the letters constitute a rich account of the artist.Trade Review'The sheer fun of this series is that it seats the reader right in Papa's chair. You travel with him in body (physical ailments) and mind (fulminations of thoughts), armed only with yourself, Hemingway's madcap voice running in your head, and perhaps a Highball or two to savour along the way.' N. J. McGarrigle, The Irish Times'These letters bring us closer to the rough, everyday mind of Hemingway than was previously possible, as we tramp alongside him in what feels like real time.' Philip Lopate, The Times Literary Supplement'… impeccable, from the punctilious transcription rules to cross- and multiple-editing, scrupulously researched footnotes, and scholarly appurtenances including a roster of correspondents …' William Blazek, The Modern Language ReviewTable of ContentsList of plates; List of maps; General editor's introduction Sandra Spanier; Acknowledgments; Note on the text; Abbreviations and short titles; Introduction to the volume Scott Donaldson; Chronology; Maps; The letters April 1929–1931; Roster of correspondents; Calendar of letters; Index of recipients; General index.

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Book SynopsisSince its publication in 1908, Anne of Green Gables has been an enduring bestseller and arguably Canada's most famous novel.

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Book SynopsisMary Shelley’s Mathilda, the story of one woman’s existential struggle after learning of her father’s desire for her, has been identified as Shelley’s most important work after Frankenstein. The two texts share many characteristics, besides authorship and contemporaneity: both concern parental abandonment; both contribute to the Gothic form through themes of incest, insanity, suicidality, monstrosity, and isolation; and both are epistolary. However, Mathilda was not published until 1959, 140 years after Shelley wrote it—in part because Shelley’s father, William Godwin, suppressed it. This new edition encourages a critical reconsideration of a novella that has been critically stereotyped as biographical and explores its importance to the Romantic debate about suicide.Historical appendices trace the connections between Mathilda and other works by Shelley and by her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, while also providing biographical documents, contemporary works on the theme of incest, and documents on suicide in the Romantic era.For Michelle Faubert’s transcription of Mathilda for the Shelley-Godwin Archive, click here.Trade Review“The Broadview Press edition of Mathilda fills a gap in Romantic studies. The long-suppressed work (Godwin refused to return the manuscript) wasn’t published until 1959, and its immediate critical reception was almost entirely biographical. Michelle Faubert’s astute introduction to this new edition offers a scrupulous account of the work’s critical reception and opens new possibilities for understanding what she calls a ‘purgatorial text.’ The judicious appendices, a hallmark of Broadview Editions, situate Shelley’s novella in the contexts of its immediate intertexts, of its central place in contemporaneous suicide debates, and, crucially, of representations of incest and the Gothic. A paperback edition makes a hitherto neglected text widely available. The sophisticated editorial care evident throughout ensures that this will also serve as the standard scholarly edition.” — Alan Vardy, Hunter College, City University of New York“Michelle Faubert’s beautifully edited version of Mathilda is the first widely available edition to come from a transcription of Shelley’s original 1819 fair copy. Faubert’s lucid and elegant introduction situates Mathilda in the context of Shelley’s earlier Frankenstein (1818) and later novella The Mourner (1830) and discusses its troubled publication history and recent critical reception. Faubert provides a wide range of well-chosen supplementary material to complement both novice and returning readers’ appreciation for and study of Mathilda. This edition should become the standard classroom text of Shelley’s important, engaging, and notorious second novel.” — Katherine Montwieler, University of North Carolina Wilmington“The editor writes with a clear sense of hope that the text may find new readers thanks to this publication. I share her optimism … Overall a superb edition that I hope will indeed breathe new life into the oft-forgotten Mathilda and her haunting tale.” — Anna Mercer, Romantic Circles“This new edition is a welcome addition, and Michelle Faubert offers an affordable volume for use by students, scholars, and general readers, which is accompanied by careful editing and explanatory notes, an authoritative introduction, and accompanying excerpts from contemporary texts. Faubert believes that the work should be better known, and this edition will do much to make it available to readers.” — Lisa Vargo, European Romantic Review“Faubert makes a convincing case in her edition for the need for new eyes to be brought to the text, as her annotations and notes regarding editing nuances and specifics attest. Because of the careful transcription her work has brought to the manuscript as well as the judicious footnotes readers expect from a Broadview edition, Faubert invites readers to reconsider the text and contexts of the novel even as readers are invited to read anew—Faubert’s notes position the edition for both the ‘popular, as well as scholarly, audience’. … Faubert’s careful edition makes a convincing argument for shining light back on this novella again.” — Lucy Morrison, Women’s WritingTable of Contents Awknowledgements Introduction Mary Shelley: A Brief Chronology A Note on the Text Mathilda Appendix A: The Romantic-era Suicide Debate From William Godwin’s An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice, and Its Influence on General Virtue and Happiness (1793) From David Hume’s Essays on Suicide and the Immortality of the Soul (1793) From William Rowley’s A Treatise on Female, Nervous, Hysterical … Diseases (1788) From John Francis’ “Sermon III. On Self-Murder” (1749) From Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774) From Lord Byron’s Manfred (1817) William Wordsworth’s “The Complaint of a Forsaken Indian Woman” (1798) Appendix B: Family Resemblances Full-detail transcription from Mary Shelley’s manuscript of “Mathilda” (1819) From Mary Shelley’s “The Fields of Fancy” (1819) From Mary Shelley’s “The Mourner” (1830) From Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) From Mary Wollstonecraft’s Mary, A Fiction (1788) From Mary Wollstonecraft’s The Wrongs of Woman, or Maria (1798) From Mary Wollstonecraft’s “Cave of Fancy” (composed 1787; published 1798) Appendix C: Incest, the Gothic, Literary Forebears From Percy Bysshe Shelley’s The Cenci (1819) From Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Laon and Cythna (1818) From Vittorio Alfieri’s Myrrha (1815) From Matthew Lewis’ The Monk (1796) From Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto (1764) Appendix D: Biographical Context: Shelley’s Letters and Journals Letter from Godwin to P. B. Shelley on Fanny Imlay’s suicide (1816) From Harriet Shelley’s suicide letter (1816) Letter by Mary Shelley on William Shelley’s final illness (1819) William Godwin’s letter to Mary Shelley on her son’s death (1819)

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Book Synopsis Anthony Trollope was well aware that the seemingly parochial power struggles that determine the action of Barchester Towers -- struggles whose comic possibilities he exploits to hilarious effect -- actually went to the heart of mid-Victorian English society, and had, in other times and other guises, led to civil war and constitutional upheaval. Thai awareness heightens the comedy and intensifies the drama in this magnificent novel and it transforms the story of a fight for ascendency among the clergy and dependants of a great English cathedral into something fundamental and universal. This is the second novel in Trollope's Barsetshire series.(Book Jacket Status: Not Jacketed)

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Book SynopsisThe story of the mysterious indictment, trial, and reckoning forced upon Joseph K—one of the twentieth century’s master parables from one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, the author of The Metamorphosis. Translated by Willa and Edwin Muir The Trial reflects the central spiritual crises of modern life. Kafka’s method—one that has influenced, in some way, almost every writer of substance who followed him—was to render the absurd and the terrifying convincing by a scrupulous, hyperreal matter-of-factness of tone and treatment. He thereby imparted to his work a level of seriousness normally associated with civilization’s most cherished poems and religious texts.Everyman's Library pursues the highest production standards, printing on acid-free cream-colored paper, with full-cloth cases with two-color foil stamping, decorative endpapers, silk ribbon markers, European-style half-round spines, and a full-color illustrated jacket. Contemporary Classics include an introduction, a select bibliography, and a chronology of the author's life and times.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review[…] this book, without wasting words, persuasively demonstrates its major thesis. It will be of great interest for historians of literature, medicine and theology in the Enlightenment.- H-France Review, Vol. 12, No. 76‘[Kozuls’s] evidence is impressively wide-ranging, well marshalled, and convincing. Eleven thematic chapters move confidently among medical treatises, theological commentary, and libertine fiction, exploring the articulation of images of the body in a cross-section of texts […]’- Oxford Journals, French StudiesCette remise en perspective par la littérature du corps érotique et religieux au XVIIIe siècle peut […] constituer un apport intéressant pour une meilleure compréhension des confrontations autour de la définition morale du corps, qui finalement, transposées dans un registre plus moderne, demeurent encore actuellement.- Bulletin bibliographique des Archives de science sociale des religionsTable of ContentsIntroduction I. Corps sacré, corps érotisé1. Histoire de la sexualité et roman érotique2. Le religieux, le romanesque, l’érotique: amour de Dieu, amour de la créature3. Oraisons sublimes et intrigues de Vénus: de Pierre-Valentin Faydit à Lenglet Du Fresnoy4. Agapè et éros5. De la polémique antireligieuse à la fiction libertine: Voltaire, d’Holbach, Parny et l’érotisme sacré6. L’attrait du corps religieux: séduction et conversion dans Les Liaisons dangereusesConclusion de la première partieII. Corps peccamineux, corps jouissif, corps malade7. Physiologies érotiques et religieuses8. Délires hybrides: mélancolie et inceste dans Cleveland de Prévost9. Physiologie, interdits et violences: autour du corps christique10. L’attrait du corps déchiré: humorisme, érotisme et pénitence11. Toxicologie et épidémiologie sadiennesConclusion de la deuxième partieConclusion généraleBibliographieIndex

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Book SynopsisFrances Harper’s fourth novel follows the life of the beautiful, light-skinned Iola Leroy to tell the story of black families in slavery, during the Civil War, and after Emancipation. Iola Leroy adopts and adapts three genres that commanded significant audiences in the nineteenth century: the sentimental romance, the slave narrative, and plantation fiction. Written by the foremost black woman activist of the nineteenth century, the novel sheds light on the movements for abolition, public education, and voting rights through a compelling narrative. This edition engages the latest research on Harper’s life and work and offers ways to teach these major moments in United States history by centering the experiences of African Americans. The appendices provide primary documents that help readers do what they are seldom encouraged to do: consider the experiences and perspectives of people who are not white. The Introduction traces Harper’s biography and the changing critical perspectives on the novel. Trade Review“Edited by one of the finest scholars of American literature, this Broadview edition of the much beloved, popular nineteenth-century classic Iola Leroy commands new attention and demonstrates fresh relevance. Koritha Mitchell elegantly argues for the merits of this early novel as an African American community text, based on its aesthetic qualities, the political currents that shaped it, and the material realities of its production, circulation, and readership. Appendices of thoughtfully curated secondary sources that privilege the firsthand testimonies of early African Americans about emancipatory, intellectual, social, and cultural matters, and that feature more creative and critical selections by Harper, bring distinction to this teachable, accessible edition. If one wishes to understand how the aftermath of enslavement has influenced and continues to shape the African American literary tradition and national conversations among and about African Americans, the Broadview edition of Iola Leroy is a necessary place to begin.” — Barbara McCaskill, University of Georgia“Koritha Mitchell gives us the definitive edition of Iola Leroy, a novel that reflects the mature insight and creative prowess of teacher, activist, and writer Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Readers are guided through this compelling saga of post–Civil War race, gender, class, and politics by Mitchell’s patient, expert hand. Her original interpretations are enriched by careful attention to the important debates that have always surrounded Harper’s work. Return to this edition again and again to discover the many meanings embedded in Iola Leroy and in Harper’s gifted prose.” — Martha S. Jones, Johns Hopkins University“Koritha Mitchell’s Broadview Press edition is a triumph and a gift to the field. Her critical work in this volume ensures that generations of readers will recognize the novel as a touchstone in their literary educations and imaginations.… Like all the best critical and cultural editions, it serves as a model for the kind of scholarship we want to write and help our students to write. The contextual materials that bookend Mitchell’s introduction and the novel itself serve not only as citations for her critical throughlines but also as an invitation to readers to be more aware of how they read texts through one another. Mitchell has produced an unparalleled resource that positions Iola Leroy as a definitive text, and her editorial provocation urges us to keep reading, rereading, and reconsidering this novel.” —Mollie Barnes, Legacy“Koritha Mitchell’s new cultural edition of Harper’s fourth novel, Iola Leroy; Or, Shadows of Uplift (first published in 1892), provides a compelling new entry in this tradition and an indispensable resource for those who assign Harper regularly or who have hesitated to teach Iola out of concern for the syllabus space required to get students up to speed on its historical and cultural contexts. Mitchell’s introduction on its own is worth the price of admission, as it synthesizes the latest work in Harper studies and situates Iola within it. … In addition to her biographical and bibliographic work, Mitchell offers a fresh take on Iola’s form and politics. Iola, Mitchell posits, ‘exemplifies the dynamism and complexity of … “community conversation” … the broad, dynamic discussions among African Americans about the countless issues affecting community members’ life chances and well-being’ (30). Throughout, Mitchell foregrounds Harper’s abiding faith in black communities and incisive critiques of white supremacy.…“Mitchell’s critical apparatus speaks to previous scholars’ monumental efforts to make Harper studies a robust field. It speaks also to an ethics of citation that should be emulated. This cultural edition offers the nineteenth century in a box, robust enough to anchor a course in which Iola represents either the ‘early’ or ‘late’ text. Mitchell’s attention to the intersections of form, literary history, and politics make it an ideal edition for graduate seminars, exam lists, and research, as well.” — Derrick R. Spires, African American ReviewTable of Contents Appendix A: Slavery, Civil War & Emancipation, Reconstruction & Its Demise 1. Fugitive Slave Act (1850) 2. United States Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney, The Dred Scott Decision (1857) 3. First Confiscation Act (1861) 4. Second Confiscation Act (1862) 5. The Emancipation Proclamation (1863) 6. The Freedmen's Bureau Act (1865) 7. The Thirteenth Amendment (1865) 8. The Fourteenth Amendment (1868) 9. The Fifteenth Amendment (1870) 10. The Compromise of 1877 11. United States Supreme Court Justice Billings Brown, Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) Appendix B: Not White? Then, You Can't Be Equal 1. 1. Abraham Lincoln, Address on Colonization to a Deputation of Negroes (1862) 2. 2. Frances Harper, ""Mrs. Frances E. Watkins Harper on the War and the President's 3. Colonization Scheme"" (1862) 4. 3. Michigan Supreme Court Justice James Campbell, The People v. Dean (1866) Appendix C: Black Families in Slavery and Freedom 1. From Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass… (1845) 2. Dictated Letter, from enslaved husband to wife when separated by owner 3. Dictated Letter, from enslaved husband to wife when separated by owner 4. Dictated letter, from enslaved wife to husband when separated by owner 5. ""Arrest of Fugitive Slaves,"" Cincinnati Gazette (29 January 1856) 6. Frances Harper, ""The Slave Mother: A Tale of Ohio"" (1857) 7. Testimony about enslaved men and women who escaped slavery to join the Union 8. effort and often planned to return to help family members escape (1863) 9. Letter from a black soldier to his children (1864) 10. Letter from a black soldier to the owner of one of his daughters (1864) 11. Notices in hopes of finding lost loved ones after Emancipation a. From Colored Tennessean (Nashville) (24 March 1866) b. From Christian Recorder (24 March 1866) c. From Christian Recorder (28 January 1871) d. From Southwestern Christian Advocate (17 July 1879) e. From Christian Recorder (5 October 1882) f. From Christian Recorder (3 January 1884) g. From Loyal Georgian (Augusta, Ga.) (13 October 1886) h. From Christian Recorder (6 January 1893) Appendix D: Education in Slavery and Freedom 1. A law making the education of enslaved people illegal 2. Account about an enslaved woman who ran a midnight school 3. Account of teaching/learning in secret during slavery 4. An account of finding the spark for learning while enslaved 5. Accounts of the consequences of learning to read and write 6. Account of black soldiers wanting education 7. Account of recently emancipated people's eagerness to learn 8. Testimony on KKK preventing school attendance after Emancipation Appendix E: Preventing Freedom Even After Emancipation 1. Laws constraining black girls and boys via apprenticeship and African Americans of every age via vagrancy statutes (1865) 2. Testimony about KKK raping black women whose husbands/fathers voted (1871) 3. From Henry W. Grady, ""The Race Problem in the South"" (1889) 4. From Ida B. Wells, The Red Record: Tabulated Statistics and Alleged Causes of Lynching in the United States (1895) Appendix F: Black Women's Activism 1. Frances Harper, ""We Are All Bound Up Together"" (1866) 2. Frances Harper, ""Aunt Chloe's Politics"" (1872) 3. Frances Harper, ""Colored Women of America"" (1878) 4. Frances Harper, ""The Women's Christian Temperance Union and the Colored Woman"" (1888) 5. Frances Harper, ""Enlightened Motherhood: An Address … Before the Brooklyn Literary Society"" (15 November 1892) 6. Fannie Barrier Williams, ""The Intellectual Progress of The Colored Women of the United States Since The Emancipation Proclamation"" (1893) Appendix G: Being Black and a Woman: Aesthetics and Reception 1. William J. Watkins, ""The Reformer"" (1854) 2. Grace Greenwood, Impressions of Harper as a speaker (1866) 3. From Anna Julia Cooper, ""The Status of Woman in America"" (1892) 4. ""Publications Reviewed,"" Christian Recorder (12 January 1893) 5. ""Review 1,"" The Independent (5 January 1893) 6. Richmond Planet (21 January1893) 7. ""Recent Fiction,"" The Nation (23 February 1893) 8. From ""Our Book List,"" The A.M.E. Church Review (April 1893) 9. ""Book Review,"" Friends' Review; a Religious, Literary and Miscellaneous Journal (22 June 1893) 10. Review of Reviews (January 1895) 11. ""Recent Fiction,"" The Independent (29 October 1896) 12. Edward Elmore Brock, ""Brock's Literary Leaves,"" Freeman (Indianapolis) (14 August 1897) 13. [W.E.B. Du Bois], ""Writers,"" Crisis (April 1911)

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Book SynopsisIn this collection of short stories Hogg focuses on the Scottish civil war of 1644-45, in which the Marquis of Montrose led his royalist forces in a series of stunning victories against the odds before his final defeat at Philiphaugh.Trade ReviewTales of the Wars of Montrose is a big book about a big historical period, and it positions Hogg strongly in the line of historical writers who require to be taken seriously. -- Ian Campbell Tales of the Wars of Montrose, too, though held together by internal connections and the common historical context, displays a similar delight in literary form, beginning with the conscious imitation of Defoe, 'Some Remarkable Passages in the Life of an Edinburgh Baillie Written by himself'. The dates and details of the opening narrative (admirably glossed by Gillian Hughes) enable Hogg to follow Defoe in exploring the relationship between literature and history, truth and fiction, while also creating a foundation for the subsequent tales of romantic intrigue, Ossianic tragedy, adventure and vendetta all over Scotland. It is hard to imagine a tale less like the Edinburgh Baillie's memoirs than that of 'Sir Simon Brodie', whose quixotic adventures include being thrown overboard in the Firth of Forth by the Duke of Argyll and rescued from his predicament by an amorous seal -- Fiona Stafford These attractive editions of Hogg's work are set directly from the original texts, and in the case of the Perils of Woman and The Shepherd's Calendar, actually represent the first ever republications of the originals... these paperback reprints further aid the dissemination of Hogg's best works, creating affordable and accessible editions. Texts previously available only to those with the golden keys of academia can now be bought and enjoyed by a wider readership. The superb apparatus included with this series ensures James Hogg's works are accessible to readers of any level. Tales of the Wars of Montrose is no exception. Gillian Hughes provides meticulous annotation, a comprehensive publication history, an introductory bibliography, an extensive glossary, and a historical note that provides essential background information on seventeenth-century Scotland, the locus of the tales. The supporting material is complemented by a multifaceted introduction which opens a number of opportunities for further research. Tales of the Wars of Montrose is a big book about a big historical period, and it positions Hogg strongly in the line of historical writers who require to be taken seriously. Tales of the Wars of Montrose, too, though held together by internal connections and the common historical context, displays a similar delight in literary form, beginning with the conscious imitation of Defoe, 'Some Remarkable Passages in the Life of an Edinburgh Baillie Written by himself'. The dates and details of the opening narrative (admirably glossed by Gillian Hughes) enable Hogg to follow Defoe in exploring the relationship between literature and history, truth and fiction, while also creating a foundation for the subsequent tales of romantic intrigue, Ossianic tragedy, adventure and vendetta all over Scotland. It is hard to imagine a tale less like the Edinburgh Baillie's memoirs than that of 'Sir Simon Brodie', whose quixotic adventures include being thrown overboard in the Firth of Forth by the Duke of Argyll and rescued from his predicament by an amorous seal These attractive editions of Hogg's work are set directly from the original texts, and in the case of the Perils of Woman and The Shepherd's Calendar, actually represent the first ever republications of the originals... these paperback reprints further aid the dissemination of Hogg's best works, creating affordable and accessible editions. Texts previously available only to those with the golden keys of academia can now be bought and enjoyed by a wider readership. The superb apparatus included with this series ensures James Hogg's works are accessible to readers of any level. Tales of the Wars of Montrose is no exception. Gillian Hughes provides meticulous annotation, a comprehensive publication history, an introductory bibliography, an extensive glossary, and a historical note that provides essential background information on seventeenth-century Scotland, the locus of the tales. The supporting material is complemented by a multifaceted introduction which opens a number of opportunities for further research.

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Book SynopsisThis volume examines the cultural importance of the coastline in Britain during a time of vast change.

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Book SynopsisMost Batman fans have enjoyed the Dark Knight in comics or on the big screen and are eagerly anticipating the release of the new Justice League movie. But only real fans know the other characters who have donned the cowl in place of Bruce Wayne, or know the full origin stories of those who make up the rogues gallery. 100 Things Batman Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die is the ultimate resource for true fans, whether you're a comic book collector, an aficionado of Christopher Nolan's films, or both! Joseph McCabe of Nerdist.com has collected every essential piece of Dark Knight knowledge and trivia, as well as must-do activities, and ranks them all from 1 to 100, providing an entertaining and easy-to-follow checklist as you progress on your way to fan superstardom. Contains exclusive interviews with Batman creators!

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"With a fan's instincts and a scholar’s passion, Ian Gordon delivers a highly readable and insightful treatment of the comic book and cinematic Superman, the most American of superheroes." -- Viet Thanh Nguyen * Pulitzer Prize winner and author of The Sympathizer *"This is the most thoughtful and thoroughly researched study about one of the most iconic characters of the last century. Ian Gordon – Superman expert – has produced a stellar book on Superman: his history and significance in popular culture; his cross-media and cross-generational reach; and his continued mythic significance for global culture. This is a must read for academics and fans alike!" -- Angela Ndalianis * author of Batman: Myth and Superhero *"This startling new study brings a new perspective and shows us Superman as a process: a shared, and often fought-over, element of American culture. The next time I teach on Superman, or superheroes in general, this will be my go-to book." -- Charles Hatfield * author of Alternative Comics *"Superman: The Persistence of an American Icon is an interesting read and well worth the time for any Superman fan interested in the character’s past, his growth, his icon status and his success over the years." * supermanhomepage.com *Included in The Top 75 Community College Titles: September Edition "This is not just another superhero study; it is one of the most comprehensive, well-thought-out analyses of the Man of Steel. Concisely packed, this book covers all dimensions of Superman: mythos, history, ideology and morality, object of nostalgia, production, authorship, ownership, audiences, and brand. Superman: The Persistence of an American Icon is extraordinarily rich, the analysis is meticulously conceived and implemented, and the writing is clear and interesting, spiced with anecdotes, asides, and quotes." -- John Lent, Temple University * Choice360 *"Gordon’s Superman will be most useful in the undergraduate classroom – it leaves plenty of room for instructors to flesh out the material as they see fit, making it a good textbook candidate in a variety of first- or second-year courses in disciplines such as Cultural Studies, American Studies and Media Studies." * Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics *"Highly recommended for scholars, nerds, and casual fans." * The Journal of American Culture *"The book is not only a crucial new resource for anyone interested in the history of Superman, but also an important contribution for the way it situates comics in general, and superheroes specifically, within a broader culture." * The Journal of Comics and Culture *"Gordon displays his considerable skills as a media historian...[A] fine book." * Inks *"Superman at 80," by Karen McCally * University of Rochester *"For a real insider look at what makes Superman tick be sure to pick up a copy of this book. It looks like superman will be around for a very long, long time." * Collector's Corner *"A fun read that can appeal to the casual reader as well as academic scholars and students. His thread of 'iconic status' is woven throughout the book to tie all of the chapters together well. As a result, this book offers a solid overview of the history of Superman while approaching the material with some new insight and interesting examples that will appeal to a variety of readers looking to learn more about not only the Man of Steel—but why his character has thrived for over 80 years." * Journal of American Culture *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Superman: The Persistence of an American Icon 1 Superman Mythos and History 2 Ideology and Morality 3 Superman: The Object of Nostalgia 4 Production, Authorship, and Ownership 5 Readers and Audiences 6 Superman the Brand and Beyond Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFrom Nausicaä to Sailor Moon, understanding girl heroines of manga and anime within otaku culture.Trade Review"A foundational book illuminating the phenomenon of cool Japan, Beautiful Fighting Girl explains the global desire for images of little girls that kick ass. Sait ’s uncomfortably deep understanding of the particulars of this Japanese phenomenon allows us to finally begin to answer questions about the far-reaching implications of the now nearly universal fetish, of our atomizing technologies of interactivity, and of our obsessions with new media. Its place in contemporary letters is nearly unparalleled and I wouldn’t be surprised if this book gives that once a decade jostle leading to the n-th wave of feminism or a complete reconfiguration of our understanding of male desire." —Jonathan E. Abel, Pennsylvania State UniversityTable of ContentsA Note on the Translation Translator’s Introduction J. Keith Vincent Beautiful Fighting Girl Preface 1. The Psychopathology of Otaku 2. Letter from an Otaku 3. Beautiful Fighting Girls outside Japan 4. The Strange Kingdom of Henry Darger 5. A Genealogy of the Beautiful Fighting Girl 6. The Emergence of the Phallic Girls Afterword to the First Edition (2000) Afterword to the Paperback Edition (2006) Commentary: The Elder Sister of Otaku: Japan’s Database Animals (2006) Hiroki Azuma Notes Index

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