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Revised and updated throughout, the second edition of this best-selling book traces the development of one of the world's richest literatures from the old English period to the present day. It adds new names, new titles and new secondary reading to reflect fresh developments in literature and society, and to bring the reader up to the present day.
'I think students could do with reading a book like this which covers the main ground quickly and simply. It would also do as a 'refresher'.' - Martin Coyle, Chair of English Literature, Cardiff University, UK
The latest edition of this comprehensive guide to literary study now includes much more material on historical and cultural contexts as well as in-depth discussions on novels, drama and poetry.
'’Well-written … the authors employ a lively and enthusiastic style that will be appreciated by its student audience. Complex concepts are clearly explained and students are referred to a range of secondary materials, including websites and discussion lists.' - Simon Horobin, Reader in English Language, Glasgow University
Key Concepts in Medieval Literature introduces students to the major authors, themes and genres of the English Middle Ages. These are discussed in concise focused essays, accompanied by summaries and recommendations for further reading, highlighting the need to see texts in context, both historically and linguistically.
'Excellent, succinct notes and introductions to each play.'- John Carey, The Sunday Times
This compact paperback edition of The Complete Works is designed for undergraduate students and includes introductory essays for each play, outstanding on-page glossary notes, a clear single-column page design with plenty of space for writing notes and photographs from the RSC archive.
Why is Shakespeare as highly regarded now as he ever has been? This book's answer to this question counters claims that Shakespeare's iconic status is no more than an accident of history. The plays, Belsey argues, entice us into a world we recognize by retelling traditional fairy tales with a difference, each chapter providing a detailed reading.
First published in 1904, this ranks as one of the greatest works of Shakespearean criticism of all time. The centenary edition includes a new Introduction by Robert Shaughnessy which places Bradley's work in the critical, intellectual and cultural context of its time.
This guide helps students navigate their reading of A.C. Bradley's classic text, while providing an important commentary on the value of Bradley's approach and how it can be adapted to present-day interests.
A 'hands-on' introductory guide to analyzing and discussing Shakespeare on screen.
This Readers’ Guide examines the major trends and movements in critical interpretation of these two popular and widely-studied novels, from the earliest reception history to the present day. The thematic and chronological organization of material points out similarities and differences between the two books, and maps Defoe studies onto some of the obvious lines of development that criticism in general has taken over the last century in particular, including feminist, ideological and postcolonial perspectives.
In this lively study, detailed analyses of individual poems are closely grounded in the literary, political and historical contexts in which Lyrical Ballads was conceived. John Blades reassesses the poems in the light of Wordsworth's and Coleridge's revolutionary theories, and traces the critical history of Lyrical Ballads over the two centuries since its first publication. Providing the critical and analytical skills with which to approach the poems, and offering guidance on further study, this stimulating book is essential reading for students.
This classic text addresses the issues that occupy Austen's most perceptive critics and offers a stimulating analysis of the author's novels. This reissued edition features a new Preface by leading scholar Marilyn Gaull, who examines Tanner's background and places the original work in context, and an explanatory Note on the Text by John Wiltshire
Angela Wright appraises the key criticism surrounding Gothic fiction, from eighteenth-century accounts to present-day commentaries. Concise and authoritative, this indispensable Guide covers the work of a variety of well-known Gothic writers, such as Horace Walpole, Ann Radcliffe, Matthew Lewis and many others.
'Excellently produced, with valuable comment. There is a fascinating selection of essays, and excellent bibliographies.' - Dr Edward Chitham, The Open University
This widely adopted critical edition presents the 1847 text of Emily Brontë's novel along with critical essays that read Wuthering Heights from four contemporary perspectives: psychoanalytic, Marxist, feminist, and cultural studies. The text and essays are complemented by contextual documents and illustrations, introductions, bibliographies, and a glossary of critical and theoretical terms.
This authoritative survey examines how the Victorian middle-classes perceived themselves, through analyses of the literature of the period. Asking how the middle classes distinguished themselves from their forbears, Julian Wolfreys reads in detail major novels by: Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, Wilkie Collin, George Eliot, Thomas Hardy.
This anthology is published in collaboration with the Open University. Lynda Prescott has collected 15 short stories by distinguished modern writers including Peter Carey, Zadie Smith and Bernard Malamud. Featuring the theme of ‘difference’, each story has something to say about cultural encounters, often arising from experiences of migration or uprooting. Includes biographic and photographic portraits of the authors.
'Consistently of a very high standard, lucidly written, and impressively comprehensive in coverage.' - Bernhard Klein, University of Essex
This guide surveys the key critical debates, themes and issues surrounding a wide variety of Irish poets, playwrights and novelists and relates Irish literature to surrounding debates on national identity, modernity and the Revival period, armed struggle, gender, sexuality and post colonialism.
This introduction places the fiction of Salman Rushdie in a clear historical and theoretical context. Morton explores Rushdie's biography, the histories that inform his major works and his relevance to contemporary culture.
This introduction places Kureishi’s fiction in historical context and explores his relevance to contemporary culture. Including a timeline of key dates and an interview with the author, this clear guide offers an overview of the varied critical reception his work has provoked.
This book provides an introduction to the work of Irvine Welsh, placing his fiction in historical and theoretical context. It explores Welsh's biography, his impact on contemporary Scottish fiction and the cultural relevance of his work. Including a timeline of key dates, it also offers an overview of the critical reception his work has provoked
Examines the key novels of the winner of the 2007 Man Booker International Prize, and enables students to navigate the field of Achebe criticism, setting out the key areas of critical debate, the most influential alternative approaches to his work and the controversies that have so often surrounded it.
Covers poets from a broad range of ethnic and regional backgrounds and explores a wide variety of poetic styles, including wellknown names like Seamus Heaney and Carol Ann Duffy alongside more experimental poets like Tom Raworth and Geraldine Monk. The book discusses all of the most compelling issues with which students, readers and writers of poetry are engaged today.
'Useful background reading for an introductory course on the novel and the changes of the genre across two centuries.' - Ann Heilman, University of Wales Swansea
'A varied selection of novels examined - from an interesting and valid context.' - David Olive, Manchester Metropolitan University
The second edition of this useful glossary presents clear, succinct, and lively definitions of more than 700 literary and critical terms for today's student. Presenting the most up-to-date definitions of traditionally essential literary terms, it also covers many new terms that reflect changes in the way literature is now being taught. In addition to illustrative examples from canonical and contemporary literature, the glossary uses hundreds of references to popular culture including television, movies, music, newspapers, and comic books.
'This text focuses on writers who are English, rather than who write in English, and deliberately concentrates on those most likely to be studied within the English education system. Its aim is to explore texts' interaction with their historical context; accordingly, it gives historical details as well as summaries and interpretations of literary texts. The style is concise, with concerns being introduced in a few paragraphs or even sentences...I found this an interesting and useful read. It introduces complex ideas in a style that will be easily understood by English teachers and will be accessible to some students at Advanced level and many in Higher Education. I recommend it for English departments and school/college libraries.' - Helen Barker, National Association for the Teaching of English
'Peter Widdowson has produced an eminently reliable, rigorous and above all readable contextualized chronology of the past 500 years of literary and cultural history. The book offers fascinating and illuminating possibilities of 'time travel' for the student and general reader alike.' - Professor Elleke Boehmer, Nottingham Trent University
Packed with wisdom about the art of fiction and filled with writing exercises, this text examines the work of today's finest authors to teach you everything you need to know about writing short stories or longer fiction. This guide will equip any student with a portfolio of key fiction-writing skills.
This stimulating workbook is aimed at committed students of Creative Writing who want to engage with ideas about writing and develop their craft and practice.
Contributions by: Linda Anderson, Theodore Deppe, George Green, Graeme Harper (aka Brooke Biaz), William Herbert, Lee Martin, Jenny Newman, Jayne Steel and a Foreword by Patricia Duncker.
'The idea of life as a story, and the story being a journey explains the title The Road to Somewhere. As a writer you need to keep progressing and improving, and the four people who have co-edited the book together aim to help you along that journey.' - Richard Bell, Writing Magazine
'This comprehensive, intelligent guide approaches writing on all levels, from basics like punctuation to the trickier parts like plotting and structure. As well as nuts and bolts advice, it includes chapters on journal writing, creativity and dreams. With dozens of writing books around, this one stands out for its greater range and depth, and its eminently readable style.' - Sarah Tierney, City Life
Studying Poetry is an engaging and approachable introduction to poetry. Barry Spurr tackles head on the difficulties students often face when reading poetry and offers practical advice.
