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Romanticism: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Michael Ferber. 2010
Professor of English explores the artistic and philosophical movement that dominated literature and the arts in Europe and America throughout…
the nineteenth century and beyond. Seeks unifying themes among a wide range of poets, composers, and philosophers, including Byron, Wordsworth, Chopin, Wagner, Carlyle, and Kant. Considers social and political ramifications. 2010Italian literature: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Peter Hainsworth, David Robey. 2012
Thematic exploration of the most significant Italian authors from perspectives of history, tradition, theory, politics, and secularism. Discusses long regional…
history, the novel's struggle to establish itself, focus on human values in the face of authoritarian dogma, increased literacy among women, and their recent prominence as novelists. 2012The Marquis de Sade: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions #Vol. 124)
By John Phillips. 2005
Examines the life and writings of a philosopher whose literary contributions were largely suppressed for two centuries. Discusses his imprisonments,…
his stance on religion and politics, his many plays, stories, and verses devoid of obscenity, important insights found in his correspondence, and legacy as an original thinker of merit. 2005Medieval literature: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Elaine M. Treharne. 2015
Stanford University humanities professor discusses medieval Britain and Ireland's literary culture and the historical events that shaped it. Considers well-known…
works such as Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales as well as sermons, lyrics, histories, and hagiographies; techniques of book production; and the importance of oral performers and scribes. 2015Literary theory: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Jonathan D. Culler. 2011
Winner of the Modern Language Association's prestigious Lowell Prize offers a topical overview of literary theory. Subjects include the definition…
of literature, the relationship between literary and cultural studies, the experience of the reader, and the components of narrative. Includes brief descriptions of modern theoretical movements. 2011Modern Latin American literature: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Roberto González Echevarría, Roberto Gonzalez Echevarria. 2012
Yale University professor discusses Central and South American writers and poets from the late eighteenth century to the present, including…
Andres Bello, Octavio Paz, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Discusses the characteristics of Latin American literature and the surprising role Paris has played in its development. 2012The gothic: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Nick Groom. 2012
A two-thousand-year history of all things Gothic, from the barbarians who sacked Rome in 410 to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.…
Analyzes the Gothic aesthetic and its influence on architecture, literature, movies, television shows, pop music, and fashion. 2012Classics: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Mary Beard, John Henderson. 1995
Highlights the continued relevance of the ancient world's legacy, focusing on Greeks and Romans and the effect of the Roman…
Empire's conquest. Explains studying classics as bridging the two-thousand-year gap that separates us when viewing artifacts and reading literature and philosophy. Reviews famous expeditions and art objects. 1995Kafka: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Ritchie Robertson. 2004
Overview of the life of Franz Kafka (1883-1924) and the major themes in his work, such as the conflict between…
mind and body, the oppressive weight of institutions, and man's search for meaning. Offers guideposts to help readers approach Kafka's enigmatic stories. 2004Chinese literature: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Sabina Knight. 2012
A survey of Chinese literature from antiquity to the twenty-first century and the ways it reflects the social and political…
concerns of its times. Discusses narrative and lyric forms as well as historical works, philosophy, and drama. 2012Bestsellers: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By John Sutherland. 2007
Literature professor in England and the U. S. defines and describes the bestseller phenomenon from the end of nineteenth-century America.…
Explores the reception of British fiction in America and American fiction in England, and discusses book production technology, bookselling practices, and the bestseller's future in the era of digitization. 2007The Beats: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By David Sterritt. 2013
The social, cultural, and aesthetic sensibilities of the Beat Generation's novelists and poets, including Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and William…
S. Burroughs. Topics include the roots of the Beat experience, analysis of the writers' work, and the lasting influence of the Beats. 2013Contemporary fiction: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Robert Eaglestone. 2013
Literature professor explores form, genre, and how present-day novels display patterns that make us more intelligible to ourselves. Discusses blurring…
the line between reality and fiction, and analyzes emblematic examples of how novels engage with the past, present, and future. Expresses views on the role of literary criticism. 2013Crime fiction: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Richard Bradford. 2015
Examines the genre's characteristics, origins, and development in Britain, the United States, France, and elsewhere, discussing categories of hard-boiled (noir),…
espionage, thriller, and legal drama, among others. Investigates women's roles as authors and characters. Questions crime fiction's relegation to inferior status compared to the mainstream literary novel. 2015Biography: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Hermione Lee. 2009
Distinguished biographer proposes definition and rules of life-writing, and sees recurring elements in different contexts rather than a chronological evolution…
of the genre. Explores many variations, demonstrating that biographical narrative is an artificial construct involving selection and that there is no such thing as a definitive one. 2009Children's literature: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Kimberley Reynolds. 2011
Surveys the creation and analysis of children's literature over the centuries. Examines research approaches, embracing of new technologies, and reflection…
of society's concerns. Proposes that, while children today have many sources of information (Internet, satellite television, computer games), literature can provide protected ways to explore ideas and issues. 2011Colonial Latin American literature: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Rolena Adorno. 2011
Recipient of the Modern Language Association's Award for Lifetime Scholarly Achievement surveys three centuries of literature from and about Central…
and South America, including historical and polemical works, explorers' travelogs, and poetry. 2011German literature: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By Nicholas Boyle. 2008
French literature: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By John D. Lyons. 2010
Examination of France's literary heritage through the lens of the protagonist, who reveals his era's worldview. Discusses first-person narrative, the…
changing status of the hero, and questioning of the social order. Compares central characters within and across time periods, analyzing how all genres exhibit what is important. 2010Classical literature: a very short introduction (Very Short Introductions)
By William Allan. 2014
Classics professor illustrates the seminal influence of the invention of major literary genres and their norms and conventions through analysis…
of 1,200 years of ancient Greek and Roman work. Identifies dominant motifs, defines the epic hero, and warns against underestimating the revolutionary nature of these writers' achievements. 2014