Added on 08/16/06

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Added on 08/16/06

Odysseus took the long way home from the Trojan War--20 years of wandering and adventuring through the islands of the Aegean Sea. The story of his voyage is one of the great tales of Western civilization--but meanwhile, what about the women who loved... See more

Odysseus took the long way home from the Trojan War--20 years of wandering and adventuring through the islands of the Aegean Sea. The story of his voyage is one of the great tales of Western civilization--but meanwhile, what about the women who loved and yearned for this handsome, crafty hero? Homer has very little to say about how these women felt about being at the mercy of Odysseus's wanderlust. To even the score, Clemence McClaren follows her award-winning <i>Inside the Walls of Troy</i> with a novel that offers a backstage perspective of Odysseus's life and adventures from the voices of the four women who cared most.<p> First, of course, is the spectacularly faithful Penelope, who was struck with love for Odysseus at first sight, and plotted to win him from her cousin, the beautiful Helen. And then there is the sensuous witch Circe, who turns men into swine and lures Odysseus to stay, only to be caught in the trap of love herself. The virgin goddess Pallas Athene watches over her... See less

Added on 08/16/06

These 247 reproducible lists for anyone who loves books are organized into 9 sections: Introduction to Literature, Books for All Ages, Genres for Every Taste, Poetry, Drama, Themes, Literary Periods, Potpourri, and Reference &amp; Aids. Also includes... See more

These 247 reproducible lists for anyone who loves books are organized into 9 sections: Introduction to Literature, Books for All Ages, Genres for Every Taste, Poetry, Drama, Themes, Literary Periods, Potpourri, and Reference &amp; Aids. Also includes various individual lists such as reading for teens and authors' last words. A helpful teachers' resource. See less

Added on 08/16/06

Joan Foster is the bored wife of a myopic ban-the-bomber.&nbsp;&nbsp;She takes off overnight as Canada's new superpoet, pens lurid gothics on the sly, attracts a blackmailing reporter, skids cheerfully in and out of menacing plots, hair-raising... See more

Joan Foster is the bored wife of a myopic ban-the-bomber.&nbsp;&nbsp;She takes off overnight as Canada's new superpoet, pens lurid gothics on the sly, attracts a blackmailing reporter, skids cheerfully in and out of menacing plots, hair-raising traps, and passionate trysts, and lands dead and well in Terremoto, Italy.&nbsp;&nbsp;In this remarkable, poetic, and magical novel, Margaret Atwood proves yet again why she is considered to be one of the most important and accomplished writers of our time. See less

Added on 08/16/06

<i>The Last Unicorn</i> is one of the true classics of fantasy, ranking with Tolkien's <i>The Hobbit</i>, Le Guin's Earthsea Trilogy, and Lewis Carroll's <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>. Beagle writes a shimmering prose-poetry, the voice of fairy tales... See more

<i>The Last Unicorn</i> is one of the true classics of fantasy, ranking with Tolkien's <i>The Hobbit</i>, Le Guin's Earthsea Trilogy, and Lewis Carroll's <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>. Beagle writes a shimmering prose-poetry, the voice of fairy tales and childhood:<p> <blockquote>The unicorn lived in a lilac wood, and she lived all alone. She was very old, though she did not know it, and she was no longer the careless color of sea foam but rather the color of snow falling on a moonlit night. But her eyes were still clear and unwearied, and she still moved like a shadow on the sea.</blockquote></p><p> The unicorn discovers that she is the last unicorn in the world, and sets off to find the others. She meets Schmendrick the Magician--whose magic seldom works, and never as he intended--when he rescues her from Mommy Fortuna's Midnight Carnival, where only some of the mythical beasts displayed are illusions. They are joined by Molly Grue, who believes in legends despite her experiences with a... See less

Added on 08/16/06

Helen is renowned as the most beautiful woman in the world. Her divine beauty will lead her to a lifetime of adventure--from her kidnapping at age 12, through an arranged marriage, to a passionate affair that will ultimately bring about the Trojan... See more

Helen is renowned as the most beautiful woman in the world. Her divine beauty will lead her to a lifetime of adventure--from her kidnapping at age 12, through an arranged marriage, to a passionate affair that will ultimately bring about the Trojan War. <br></br><br></br>Cassandra, the sister of Helen's true love, has the gift, or curse, to predict the future. When she foresees the ruin of her family and city, caused by Helen's arrival in Troy, she is outraged. Yet Cassandra cannot help being drawn to Helen, and as the war rages around them, the two young women develop a deep friendship. <br></br><br></br>Through their eyes, the classic tale of the Trojan War is retold in an immediate and fascinating way. See less

Added on 08/16/06

This tale of two princesses - one beautiful and one unattractive - and of the struggle between sacred and profane love is Lewis&rsquo;s reworking of the myth of Cupid and Psyche and one of his most enduring works.<br></br>

This tale of two princesses - one beautiful and one unattractive - and of the struggle between sacred and profane love is Lewis&rsquo;s reworking of the myth of Cupid and Psyche and one of his most enduring works.<br></br> See less

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<i>An Introduction to Film Studies</i> is a comprehensive introduction to the study of cinema. This completely revised and updated second edition provides a guide to key issues and concepts in the field and also traces the historical development of... See more

<i>An Introduction to Film Studies</i> is a comprehensive introduction to the study of cinema. This completely revised and updated second edition provides a guide to key issues and concepts in the field and also traces the historical development of film, while introducing some of the world's key national cinemas. <p> Written by experts in the field and lavishly illustrated with over 160 film stills and production shots, it will be essential reading for any introductory student of film. Key features of the second edition are: </p><p> * updated coverage of a wide range of concepts, theories and issues in film studies <br></br> * in-depth discussion of the contemporary film industry <br></br> * a new chapter on spectatorship in cinema <br></br> * marginal key terms, notes, cross-referencing, review questions and follow-up activities <br></br> * new case studies and examples, website resources and a glossary of terms <br></br> * suggestions for further reading, further viewing... See less

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Added on 08/16/06

The only college-level survey of the twentieth-century novel, this very brief and inexpensive guide presents key historical background for, issues concerning, and critical approaches to the modern, post-modern, and contemporary novel.

The only college-level survey of the twentieth-century novel, this very brief and inexpensive guide presents key historical background for, issues concerning, and critical approaches to the modern, post-modern, and contemporary novel. See less

Added on 08/16/06

The <i>definitive,</i> contemporary reference on literature and literary criticism in English, this handbook provides an alphabetical listing of more than 2,000 important terms and facts in literature, linguistics, rhetoric, criticism, printing,... See more

The <i>definitive,</i> contemporary reference on literature and literary criticism in English, this handbook provides an alphabetical listing of more than 2,000 important terms and facts in literature, linguistics, rhetoric, criticism, printing, bookselling, and information technology. Covers a wide range of terms, most centered in literature, but extending into other areas, such as film, radio, TV, printing, linguistics and literary theory, music, graphic arts, classical studies, and computing and information science terms. For anyone interested in literature and literary criticism. See less

Added on 08/16/06

Can't decide what to read? Imagine a list of the greatest books described in concise, insightful and witty profiles to browse in search of the next perfect read. 2002 Great Books for Every Book Lover offers all this and more, reviewing each book with... See more

Can't decide what to read? Imagine a list of the greatest books described in concise, insightful and witty profiles to browse in search of the next perfect read. 2002 Great Books for Every Book Lover offers all this and more, reviewing each book with the wit and wisdom of a seasoned book critic in this unique and useful reference that belongs in every bibliophile's library. * Readers will love the broad selection of titles, learning about famous authors and finding or recommending the next perfect read for themselves, friends and family--every type of book is covered. * Each of the 2002 book profiles, roughly one paragraph long, gives a short summary, historical context, information about the author, why the book was important and other recommended reads by the same author. * Indexes make it easy to find books by subject, title or author. A tear-off list gives readers a handy in-store reference and a check-off list helps track all the books they've read. See less

Added on 08/16/06

The answer to the attention-grabbing question posed by classicists Victor Davis Hanson and John Heath in the title of this passionate defense of their field (which is also a damnation of their academic colleagues) is not a pretty one. &quot;It... See more

The answer to the attention-grabbing question posed by classicists Victor Davis Hanson and John Heath in the title of this passionate defense of their field (which is also a damnation of their academic colleagues) is not a pretty one. &quot;It was,&quot; they admit sadly, &quot;an inside job.&quot; <p> Why, at the end of the 20th century, should we give a hoot in the first place about a brutal, misogynist society that rose to greatness on the back of slaves? Because, they argue, it <i>was</i> the first place; for all the faults of ancient Greece, the seeds of what Western civilization is today were planted there. &quot;What we mean by Greek wisdom,&quot; they explain, &quot;is that at the very beginning of Western culture the Greeks provided a blueprint for an ordered and humane society that could transcend time and space, one whose spirit and core values could evolve, sustain, and drive political reform and social change for ages hence.&quot; </p><p> But Hanson and Heath are not... See less

Added on 08/16/06

Everyone knows that Galileo Galilei dropped cannonballs off the leaning tower of Pisa, developed the first reliable telescope, and was convicted by the Inquisition for holding a heretical belief--that the earth revolved around the sun. But did you... See more

Everyone knows that Galileo Galilei dropped cannonballs off the leaning tower of Pisa, developed the first reliable telescope, and was convicted by the Inquisition for holding a heretical belief--that the earth revolved around the sun. But did you know he had a daughter? In <i>Galileo's Daughter</i>, Dava Sobel (author of the bestselling <i>Longitude</i>) tells the story of the famous scientist and his illegitimate daughter, Sister Maria Celeste. Sobel bases her book on 124 surviving letters to the scientist from the nun, whom Galileo described as &quot;a woman of exquisite mind, singular goodness, and tenderly attached to me.&quot; Their loving correspondence revealed much about their world: the agonies of the bubonic plague, the hardships of monastic life, even Galileo's occasional forgetfulness (&quot;The little basket, which I sent you recently with several pastries, is not mine, and therefore I wish you to return it to me&quot;).<p> While Galileo tangled with the Church, Maria... See less

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When a great annual collection comes out, it's hard to know the reason why. Was there a bumper crop of high-quality stories, or was this year's guest editor especially gifted at winnowing out the good ones? Either way, the 2000 edition of <i>The... See more

When a great annual collection comes out, it's hard to know the reason why. Was there a bumper crop of high-quality stories, or was this year's guest editor especially gifted at winnowing out the good ones? Either way, the 2000 edition of <i>The Best American Short Stories</i> is a standout in a series that can be uneven. Its editor, E.L. Doctorow, seems to have a fondness for the &quot;what if?&quot; story, the kind of tale that posits an imagination-prodding question and then attempts to answer it. Nathan Englander's &quot;The Gilgul of Park Avenue&quot; asks: What if a WASPy financial analyst, riding in a cab one day, discovers to his surprise that he is irrevocably Jewish? In &quot;The Ordinary Son,&quot; Ron Carlson asks: What if you are the only average person in a family of certifiable geniuses? And Allan Gurganus's &quot;He's at the Office&quot; asks: What if the quintessential postwar American working man were forced to retire? This last story is narrated by the ... See less

Added on 08/16/06

Better than any book I can think of, <i>White Noise</i> captures the particular strangeness of life in a time where humankind has finally learned enough to kill itself. Naturally, it's a terribly funny book, and the prose is as beautiful as a sunset... See more

Better than any book I can think of, <i>White Noise</i> captures the particular strangeness of life in a time where humankind has finally learned enough to kill itself. Naturally, it's a terribly funny book, and the prose is as beautiful as a sunset through a particulate-filled sky. Nice-guy narrator Jack Gladney teaches Hitler Studies at a small college. His wife may be taking a drug that removes fear, and one day a nearby chemical plant accidentally releases a cloud of gas that may be poisonous. Writing before Bhopal and Prozac entered the popular lexicon, DeLillo produced a work so closely tuned into its time that it tells the future. See less

Added on 08/16/06

<p><font size="+1" ><b>THE ONLY COMPLETE COLLECTION BY THE NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR</b></font></p><p>In this definitive collection of Ernest Hemingway's short stories, readers will delight in the author's most beloved classics such as <i>&quot;The... See more

<p><font size="+1" ><b>THE ONLY COMPLETE COLLECTION BY THE NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR</b></font></p><p>In this definitive collection of Ernest Hemingway's short stories, readers will delight in the author's most beloved classics such as <i>&quot;The Snows of Kilimanjaro,&quot; &quot;Hills Like White Elephants,&quot;</i> and <i>&quot;A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,&quot;</i> and will discover seven new tales published for the first time in this collection. For Hemingway fans <i>The Complete Short Stories</i> is an invaluable treasury.</p><p> </p> See less

Added on 08/16/06

Few cities on earth exert New York's pull on the literary imagination. There may be nothing like Paris in springtime, or a foggy day in London Town, but for sheer page volume, neither of these can rival the city that never sleeps. In celebration of... See more

Few cities on earth exert New York's pull on the literary imagination. There may be nothing like Paris in springtime, or a foggy day in London Town, but for sheer page volume, neither of these can rival the city that never sleeps. In celebration of Greater New York's centenary, the Library of America has assembled almost 200 years' worth of literary Gothamiana--no small task, given the scope from which they had to choose. The result is a hefty, pleasingly eclectic anthology that works as both historical document and literary revelation. Editor Phillip Lopate has wisely chosen to include both the familiar (Melville's &quot;Bartleby the Scrivener,&quot; Whitman's &quot;Crossing Brooklyn Ferry&quot;) and the unknown (the diaries of English actress Fanny Kemble). Edith Wharton, Oscar Hijuelos, Henry Miller, Willa Cather, Tom Wolfe, Hart Crane: these are only a few of the writers who offer up their takes on the city, in terms that vary from nostalgic to cynical, romantic to tart. &quot;I... See less

Added on 08/16/06

This collection of Vonnegut's short masterpieces share his audacious sense of humor and extraordinary creative vision.

This collection of Vonnegut's short masterpieces share his audacious sense of humor and extraordinary creative vision. See less

Added on 08/16/06

Author most recently of a stunningly clear-eyed memoir, This Boy's Life, Tobias Wolff's new collection of short stories maintains a similar steady gaze on his fictional creations. The author steels himself with a fine sense of irony and an awareness... See more

Author most recently of a stunningly clear-eyed memoir, This Boy's Life, Tobias Wolff's new collection of short stories maintains a similar steady gaze on his fictional creations. The author steels himself with a fine sense of irony and an awareness of moral ambiguity against the unjust suffering that is part of life. Wolff is a master at building tension, as in his description of the machinery threatening the little boy in the title story, or of a father's observing a dog attack his son in &quot;Chain.&quot; His naturalistic, powerfully written stories explore the human response to the random and unexpected blows of fate. See less

Added on 08/16/06

Dan Davis was tricked by an unscrupulous business partner and a greedy fiancee into spending thirty years in suspended animation just when he was on the verge of a success beyond his wildest dreams. But when he awoke in the future, he discovered he... See more

Dan Davis was tricked by an unscrupulous business partner and a greedy fiancee into spending thirty years in suspended animation just when he was on the verge of a success beyond his wildest dreams. But when he awoke in the future, he discovered he had the means to travel back in time -- and get his revenge! See less

Added on 08/16/06

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Added on 08/16/06

In the shade of a banyan tree, a grizzled ferryman sits listening to the river. Some say he's a sage. He was once a wandering shramana and, briefly, like thousands of others, he followed Gotama the Buddha, enraptured by his sermons. But this man,... See more

In the shade of a banyan tree, a grizzled ferryman sits listening to the river. Some say he's a sage. He was once a wandering shramana and, briefly, like thousands of others, he followed Gotama the Buddha, enraptured by his sermons. But this man, Siddhartha, was not a follower of any but his own soul. Born the son of a Brahmin, Siddhartha was blessed in appearance, intelligence, and charisma. In order to find meaning in life, he discarded his promising future for the life of a wandering ascetic. Still, true happiness evaded him. Then a life of pleasure and titillation merely eroded away his spiritual gains until he was just like all the other &quot;child people,&quot; dragged around by his desires. Like Hermann Hesse's other creations of struggling young men, <i>Siddhartha</i> has a good dose of European angst and stubborn individualism. His final epiphany challenges both the Buddhist and the Hindu ideals of enlightenment. Neither a practitioner nor a devotee, neither... See less

Added on 08/16/06

Female Beats wrote poetry, took drugs, went on the road, listened to jazz, and lived on the fringe just as the men did, but their accomplishments are not as widely recognized. This volume attempts to correct this oversight by profiling 40 women of... See more

Female Beats wrote poetry, took drugs, went on the road, listened to jazz, and lived on the fringe just as the men did, but their accomplishments are not as widely recognized. This volume attempts to correct this oversight by profiling 40 women of the Beat generation and publishing samples of their work. Well-known poets Diane di Prima and Denise Levertov appear in the volume, along with the muses of male writers and other women who never became famous at all. As Brenda Knight notes in her introduction, counterculture women in the 1950s and 1960s faced difficult obstacles: &quot;To be unmarried, a poet, an artist, to bear biracial children, to go on the road was doubly shocking for a woman, and social condemnation was high.&quot; The first portion of the anthology is devoted to women who were not Beats but who set the stage for the movement. Josephine Miles wrote poetry and mentored the younger Beat poets at Berkeley, while Madeline Gleason founded the San Francisco Poetry Festival.... See less

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