Literary Criticism & Collections

Yves Bonnefoy's Rue Traversière is a masterful collection of poems that showcase his unique voice and artistic excellence. Written in 1977, this work is a harmonious blend of styles and genres,...

Roland Barthes's literary analysis of Balzac's short story "Sarrasine" is presented in this essay. Translated by Richard Miller and prefaced by Richard Howard, it offers a scrupulous examination of...

The Poetry of Ted Hughes: A Reader's Guide explores the reception history of Ted Hughes' poetry from his first to last published collection. Sandie Byrne examines the criticism surrounding key issues...

Ezra Pound's Pisan Cantos is a deeply personal and enigmatic work, written in response to his experiences during World War II. In this study, Katrina Makkouk explores the poet's use of occult...

Outer Space: 100 Poems brings together a diverse range of voices from across history and cultures to explore our relationship with the cosmos.Poets, astronomers, and scientists have long used space...

The Meaning of Shakespeare by Harold C. Goddard is a two-volume work that explores the plays and literary genius of William Shakespeare.Published in 1951, this authoritative study celebrates...

Mark Valentine's Haunted by Books is an exploration of the lesser-known corners of literature. The author delves into the lives and works of intriguing figures, from those who defied convention to...

This collection of essays explores the art of short story writing through the lens of its own history. From Hawthorne's pioneering work to Kafka's modernist masterpieces, these writers offer fresh...

Critical Terms for Literary Study by Frank Lentricchia and Thomas McLaughlin is an essential introduction to literary theory and criticism. First published in 1990, this landmark work has been...

Why Indigenous Literatures Matter by Daniel Heath Justice is a thought-provoking exploration of the significance of literary expression in the lives of Indigenous peoples. This book contemplates four...

The Records of the Three Kingdoms in Plain Language offers an engaging and accessible introduction to one of China's foundational epic traditions. Translated into English for the first time, this...

Unseen City: The Psychic Lives of the Urban Poor by Ankhi Mukherjee is a groundbreaking work of literary and cultural criticism that explores the complex relationships between global cities, poverty,...

The King of Tars is an early Middle English romance that explores themes of race, gender, and religion. Written in a short poem, its purpose is to celebrate the power of Christianity, yet it defies...

Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women is a thought-provoking collection of essays by Jayne Ann Krentz and other bestselling romance writers. In this book, the authors challenge common misconceptions...

Coincidence A Head Test A remarkable collection of esoteric writings, Coincidence A Head Test is an experimental work that defies easy categorisation. It's a dance of meaning, modernism and...

Joseph Campbell's writings and lectures on the Arthurian romances of the Middle Ages are collected in this new paperback volume. A central focus of his celebrated scholarship, these works explore the...

Why Women Read Fiction: The Stories of Our Lives by Helen Taylor explores how fiction is precious to contemporary British women readers and how they draw on it to tell the stories of their lives...

Things Fall Away: A New Paradigm for Understanding Politics and Globalization In this groundbreaking work, Neferti X. M. Tadiar offers a fresh perspective on politics and globalization by exploring...

Four Plays by Pelham Grenville Wodehouse is a collection of four plays that showcase the author's unique blend of wit and drama.Written in English, these plays offer a glimpse into the world of...

The Book of Stupid Questions by Tom Weller is a humorous collection of questions that explore the absurdities and contradictions of everyday life.First published in 1988, this paperback edition...

The Speech of the Birds Concerning Migration to the Real is a masterpiece of Persian literature presented in English for the first time. This translation and annotation brings together the poem's...

John Betjeman's lesser-known radio poems have been rediscovered in this collection.Poems in the Porch presents a significant addition to Betjeman's oeuvre, offering new insights into his unique voice...

Cheerfulness: A Literary and Cultural History by Timothy Hampton offers a fresh perspective on a form of emotion that has shaped both social life and literary history in the European/American...

Freedom's Empire: Race and the Rise of the Novel in Atlantic Modernity, 1640-1940 by Laura Anne Doyle explores the pivotal role of race in shaping English-language literature over three centuries...

The Darcy Myth by Rachel Feder explores the enduring influence of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice on our cultural ideas about love and marriage. A closer examination reveals that this beloved...

Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak declares the death of comparative literature as we know it. In this new book, she calls for a "new comparative literature" that is not determined by market forces. Spivak...

The publication and defense of Allen Ginsberg's landmark poem "Howl" is presented in this collection. Correspondence, documents, photographs, and trial transcripts reveal the story behind its...

Medical Humanities and Disability Studies In/Disciplines explores the connections between two disciplines that have emerged from different heritages yet share commonalities. By examining life stories...

The Cambridge Companion to Narrative provides a comprehensive overview of current approaches to narrative study. This collection of essays brings together international experts to explore ideas of...

Tolkien's maps are more than just illustrations to aid understanding of his stories. They offer a unique window into the world he created and the power dynamics at play within it. This study examines...

This collection offers in-depth analysis and new translations of three plays by Kālidāsa: "Sakuntala and the Ring of Recollection," "Urvasi Won by Valor," and "Malavika and Agnimitra."Published for...

Devotions upon Emergent Occasions is a collection of passionate meditations written by John Donne during a severe illness. First published in 1624, these unadorned reflections offer an intimate...

Marxist Literary Theory: A Reader is a comprehensive collection of key texts that forms the core of a Marxist literary tradition. This unique compilation brings together leading thinkers to provide...

Fictional Dialogue: A Study of Speech and Conversation in Modern and Postmodern Novels By Bronwen Thomas, published by the University of Nebraska Press in 2012. This book explores the role of...

Philosophy in Don Quixote Commentary on the Meditations of Ortega y Gasset by Oswald Sobrino. This book offers a unique commentary on the philosophical insights of Spanish philosopher Jos Ortega y...

The Nero Wolfe Files is a collection of stories from over twenty-five years of The Gazette, featuring America's greatest sleuth, Nero Wolfe. Marvin Kaye, veteran anthologist and novelist, has curated...

A comprehensive collection of critical and historical essays on Shakespeare's films, this Companion provides an international perspective on the art of film adaptation. Revised and updated chapters...

Postmodern fiction presents a unique reading experience, requiring active engagement from the reader to unravel its meanings. This introduction to postmodernism focuses on literature rather than...

The Silmarillion - Thirty Years On by Allan Turner Thirty years have passed since Christopher Tolkien's edition of The Silmarillion was first published in 1977, offering readers their first glimpse...

This collection of interconnected essays explores the representation of vampires and the undead in literature, art, and other media, examining their connection to broader social and cultural issues...

King Lear's Dark Consolations by Arthur W. Frank offers a unique perspective on Shakespeare's tragedy, exploring how its themes of loss and forgiveness can provide solace to those who have...

Hans-Georg Gadamer's theory of hermeneutics is a foundational concept in understanding interpretation and meaning. This comprehensive guide to his thought provides an overview of Gadamer's life and...

The Moralized Ovid by Pierre Bersuire A 14th-century interpretation of Ovid's Metamorphoses, this work is a unique blend of classical literature and Christian moral instruction. Written in three...

The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma In this thought-provoking exploration, Gurcharan Das delves into the 2,000-year-old Sanskrit epic, Mahabharata, to uncover timeless lessons...

This moving tribute to philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty is written by one of his most influential contemporaries, Jean-Paul Sartre. In this single long essay, Sartre analyzes the work of...

Susan Howe's The Quarry brings together a selection of her previously uncollected essays, spanning several decades. The collection begins with recent work, including "Vagrancy in the Park," and moves...

Leo Tolstoy's critical essay on Shakespeare explores the author's unique perspective on the Bard's works. In this 1906 preface, Tolstoy shares his personal experience with Shakespeare's plays,...

A.S. Byatt explores the intersection of history and fiction in her selected essays, examining the resurgence of interest in historical novels and their impact on contemporary authors. Byatt considers...

Shakespeare and the Book Trade by Lukas Erne explores how Shakespeare's printed plays and poems were published, disseminated, and received during his lifetime. In this groundbreaking study, Erne...

A comprehensive survey of classical literature from ancient Greece and Rome, covering the period from Homer to Augustine. This accessible one-volume work explores the key genres and areas of...

Death and the Labyrinth is Michel Foucault's unique exploration of literature, written with great pleasure. This revised edition includes an introduction, chronology and bibliography to Foucault's...

Thomas Hardy's Wessex is a region steeped in history and literature. In this exploration, Tony Fincham delves into the lives and works of those who shaped this unique corner of England.From its...

Rimbaud: A Critical Introduction by Cecil Arthur Hackett is a comprehensive survey of the French poet's work. Professor Hackett's focus is on Rimbaud's poetry, exploring his most important early...

The Cambridge Companion to Frederick Douglass provides an in-depth exploration of the life and work of one of America's most influential abolitionists. This collection of essays from prominent...

Same Old Queer Theory: A New Perspective on Difference and Sameness This book offers a fresh approach to queer theory by re-examining the concepts that have shaped it since its inception in the 1990s...

Virgil's poems offer a profound exploration of imperialism and the individual's relationship with the State. From short pastoral pieces to the epic "Aeneid", his work showcases a series of ambitious...

Shakespeare Survey 74: Exploring Shakespeare and Education This volume of Shakespeare Survey brings together leading international scholarship on the relationship between Shakespeare's plays and...

The Cambridge Companion to Travel Writing brings together leading scholars from various disciplines to explore travel writing in English between 1500 and the present. This comprehensive introduction...

No Man's Land: The Place of the Woman Writer in the Twentieth Century by Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar explores the connections between femininity and modernity through the works of writers such...

Doing Shakespeare by Simon Palfrey provides close readings of Shakespeare's speeches and scenes to help students demystify the language and critical approaches. This revised edition introduces a new...

Writing on the Body: A Collection of Essays on Feminist Theory and the Female Body. This collection of essays explores the complex relationships between women's lived experiences and the cultural...

Between Women: Friendship, Desire, and Marriage in Victorian England explores the lives of women who defied traditional norms by forming close relationships with each other. Through a detailed...

The Dream of the Rood: An Old English Poem Attributed to Cynewulf A culturally significant work in the public domain, this poem has been preserved and made available for study and appreciation. Its...

Terry Pratchett Could Save the World by Rebecca Ann Bach offers a unique perspective on the power of fantasy in addressing our world's most pressing challenges. By examining Pratchett's novels, this...

Rhetorics of Fantasy explores the boundaries of fantasy literature through a new system of classification. Farah Mendlesohn examines nearly 200 examples of modern fantasy to understand how writers...

Old Mortality is a historical romance that sets an unconventional hero against the forces of fanaticism in 17th-century Scotland. Henry Morton joins the rebels to fight Scotland's royalist...

Wrestling with the Left: The Making of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man by Barbara Foley presents a detailed analysis of the creation of Invisible Man. This study sheds new light on Ralph Ellison's...

This edition of Shakespeare's Othello brings together a wide range of critical articles and contemporary essays to provide a comprehensive understanding of the play. Alongside works by notable...

The Blackwell History of the Latin Language provides a comprehensive overview of the development and transformation of Latin from its prehistoric origins to the creation of the Classical Language...

Introducing an essential introduction to one of the greatest Arab poets, Al-Mutanabbi. This study provides a convenient and accessible guide to his life, style, influence, and works.A selection of...

Irina Paperno's "Who, What Am I? Tolstoy Struggles to Narrate the Self" explores the Russian writer's lifelong quest to find adequate ways to represent the self. Through his voluminous nonfiction...

This volume examines T.S. Eliot, T.E. Hulme and Ezra Pound, three influential figures of modernist poetry, and their theories of social and political reform. It explores the complex theoretical...

The Encyclopaedia of Girl's School Stories Volume One is the first in a three-volume series that explores the world of girls' school stories. This comprehensive guide covers a wide range of topics,...

W.J.T. Mitchell's Iconology explores the nature of images by examining them through the lens of verbal language.The author seeks to understand how images are constructed and perceived, comparing...

Twenty-nine essays by one of the finest essayists of the 20th Century, Virginia Woolf, are collected here in this comprehensive volume.Widely regarded for her insightful and innovative writing on...

The Case of the Chinese Detective and the American Reader by J.K. Van Dover is an in-depth analysis of the Judge Dee novels by Robert van Gulik, a renowned author who wrote 15 novels, two novellas,...

Harold C. Goddard's monumental work on Shakespeare is a two-volume tour de force that explores the playwright's remarkable works and literary genius.Published in 1951, this authoritative study offers...

Sartre's study of Baudelaire is a landmark work of modern criticism. While interpretations may vary, Sartre's mastery in presenting his case is undeniable. As an Existentialist, he applies his...

The Black Woman: An AnthologyA groundbreaking collection of early works from some of the most celebrated African American female writers, first published in 1970. This anthology introduced readers to...

Purity and Danger: An Analysis of Concepts of Pollution and Taboo by Pádraig Belton is a thought-provoking analysis of Mary Douglas's seminal work. In this book, Belton delves into the existing...

Magazines were once the authors of culture and taste, shaping intelligence and policy for a century. From their origins in London to their rise as creators of a new media aesthetic and mass culture,...

This book focuses on the poetic process at work in modern French verse, encouraging readers to explore the textual richness of individual poems. By examining metre and rhythm, uses of verse-form,...

First published in 1798, Lyrical Ballads marked a significant shift in poetry with its innovative and expressive style. This Routledge Classics edition presents the poems in their original context,...

Ezra Pound and the Visual Culture of Modernism by Rebecca Beasley explores the influential connections between modernist literature and visual arts in early twentieth-century Europe. This study...

The Cambridge Companion to the Eighteenth-Century Novel by John Richetti provides a comprehensive understanding of the novel's emergence in eighteenth-century Britain. Over the past twenty years, new...

Scotland has produced poetry that reflects its complex cultural heritage. From Celtic devotional works to satirical writings about post-Reformation identity, Scottish verse has explored themes of...

Understanding why we read literature has long been a subject of debate among scholars. Rita Felski's Uses of Literature offers a fresh perspective on this question, exploring the diverse motives and...

Warriors' Wives: Ancient Greek Myth and Modern Experience by Emma Bridges explores the lives of women married to soldiers, both in ancient Greece and today. Drawing on epic poetry and tragic drama,...

Sade: A Sudden Abyss by Annie Le Brun is a fresh and authoritative survey of the French writer's work. In this translation of her introduction to J.J. Pauvert's new edition of Sade's complete works,...

Girl Gangs, Biker Boys, and Real Cool Cats is a comprehensive account of how postwar youth culture was depicted in mass-market pulp fiction. From juvenile delinquent gangs to bikers, skinheads, and...

Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd is a novel that defies expectations. Initially intended as a quiet story, it took on a life of its own, exploring themes that were both dark and uplifting...

This Reader provides 42 exemplary readings that map the theoretical and literary aspects of Transatlantic Literary Studies. Leading experts Susan Manning and Andrew Taylor introduce key ideas,...

This collection of essays explores the humanist tradition in European literature from the 19th century onwards. Georg Lukacs examines the works of writers such as Balzac, Tolstoy and Stendhal,...

A Psychoanalytic Interpretation of Homer's Odyssey This book presents a rigorous psychoanalytic interpretation of the Homeric dream of twenty geese, exploring its distortions and associations. A lay...

Final Frontiers: Science Fiction and Techno-Science in Non-Aligned India explores the relationship between science fiction, techno-scientific policies, and the global non-aligned movement that...

The Essential Odyssey (Hackett Classics) A comprehensive and accessible version of Homer's epic poem, The Essential Odyssey brings together more than half of the original work, including its most...

The Cambridge Companion to English Renaissance Tragedy provides in-depth analysis and interpretation of key topics and canonical texts. Part I explores fundamental themes such as religion, revenge,...

Reading for Life is an anthology that explores how literature affects individuals in different ways. It features poems and prose extracts from various texts, alongside case studies of people who have...

Aberrations in Black: Toward a Queer of Color Critique by Roderick A. Ferguson explores how sociological theories of racial difference have been shaped by discourses of sexuality, particularly in...

The Poetics of Cruising Queer Visual Culture from Whitman to Grindr by Jack Parlett explores the intersection of urban cruising, photography, and visual culture in the work of leading poets. This...