Nancy M. Tischler - Böcker

From his earliest success in 1945 with the poignant The Glass Menagerie, until his final curtain call with the 1979 production of The Two-Character Play, Tennessee Williams never stopped experimenting with theatrical techniques and striving to explain his richly provocative ideas. This new critical study of Williams traces the shape of the playwright's life and career, both full of wanderings, failures, love, anguish, and unparalleled triumphs. Incorporating much of the new information that is emerging in the recent publication of letters, biographies, and previously unpublished plays, this Student Companion distills a vast body of scholarship to give a fresh and accessible presentation of the key elements of Williams' complicated works. In-depth analysis of 7 of Williams' plays explore the literary styles, themes, and influences Williams drew from poetry, movies, mythology, religion, and personal experiences. This book allows the general reader and theatre enthusiast a glimpse at the shape of his life, his mind, and his work. Readers will come to appreciate why plays such as A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955) have come to be considered American classics.Following the successful series format, this volume introduces readers to Tennessee Williams with a richly detailed biography, followed by a Literary Heritage chapter. A full chapter is devoted to examining each of his major plays. In addition to analysis of character, plot, themes, and style, each play is also given an alternate reading from formal, feminist, psychological, gay, or theological criticism. The concluding bibliography cites all of Williams' dramatic output, as well as his poetry and prose. It also gives many sources for biographical information, criticism of individual works, and original reviews from the first staging of his plays. Students and their teachers should find this volume interesting and easy to follow.

Most who's who Bible references are out of print, written only for younger readers, or lack the scope and readiness of information found in this remarkable new resource. The epic richness of the Bible is a source of never-ending study and interest. Archetypal protagonists from Aaron to Zephaniah continue to resonate throughout Western culture. This book profiles and contextualizes more than 100 of the most significant biblical figures from the Scriptures, Apocrypha, and New Testament, including information about their heritage, adventures and pronouncements, the periods in which they lived, later discoveries about the characters and their times, and traditions that have developed around them.Each alphabetically organized essay entry discusses the name and etymology of the character, provides a rich synopsis of the relevant Bible story or stories, presents historical context and archeological evidence, and traces the character in later cultural works. This authoritative and invaluable research tool is perfect for students of religion and Western literature and the arts, as well as general readers of the Bible.

The Bible has had a tremendous influence on world history and culture, but it is largely unfamiliar to many students. This book relates the Bible to a wide range of literary works commonly read by students and thus helps students understand these texts as well as the cultural and historical contexts surrounding them. Included are chapters on 20 themes, such as creation, family and friends, love and marriage, the hero, war, and death and the afterlife. Each chapter discusses the biblical significance of the theme, provides scriptural quotations and citations, and explores the biblical presence of the theme in literary works often read by students. Each chapter cites works for further reading, and the volume closes with a selected, general bibliography.Each chapter discusses the biblical significance of the theme, provides scriptural citations and quotations, and relates the theme to frequently read literary works. Chapters suggest resources for further reading, and the volume closes with a selected, general bibliography. With the tremendous growth in courses on the Bible as literature, this book will be a welcome resource for students of literature, history, and religion.