Routledge Guides to Literature – serie

So many questions surround the key figures in the English literary canon, but most books focus on one aspect of an author's life or work, or limit themselves to a single critical approach. Geoffrey Chaucer offers: *basic information on an author's life, contexts and works *the major critical issues surrounding the author's works, from the time they were written to the present *explanations of the full range of different critical views and interpretations * guides to further reading in each area.

So many questions surround the key figures in the English literary canon, but most books focus on one aspect of an author's life or work, or limit themselves to a single critical approach. Geoffrey Chaucer offers: *basic information on an author's life, contexts and works *the major critical issues surrounding the author's works, from the time they were written to the present *explanations of the full range of different critical views and interpretations * guides to further reading in each area.

There is a crying need for an accessible, comprehensive guide to John Milton for the thousands of students who make their way through his poetry every year on literary survey and seventeenth century literature courses. Where many previous guides have dragged their way through Paradise Lost, Richard Bradford brings Milton to life with an overview of his life, contexts, work and the relationship between these, and of the main critical issues surrounding his work.

There is a crying need for an accessible, comprehensive guide to John Milton for the thousands of students who make their way through his poetry every year on literary survey and seventeenth century literature courses. Where many previous guides have dragged their way through Paradise Lost, Richard Bradford brings Milton to life with an overview of his life, contexts, work and the relationship between these, and of the main critical issues surrounding his work.

So many questions surround the key figures in the English literary canon, but most books focus on one aspect of an author's life or work, or limit themselves to a single critical approach. Alexander Pope is a comprehensive, user-friendly guide which:* offers information on Pope's life, contexts and works* outline the major critical issues surrounding his works, from the time they were written to the present*explains the full range of different critical views and interpretations* offers guides to further reading in each area discussed.

So many questions surround the key figures in the English literary canon, but most books focus on one aspect of an author's life or work, or limit themselves to a single critical approach. Alexander Pope is a comprehensive, user-friendly guide which:* offers information on Pope's life, contexts and works* outline the major critical issues surrounding his works, from the time they were written to the present*explains the full range of different critical views and interpretations* offers guides to further reading in each area discussed.

As a woman in an illegal marriage, publishing under a male pseudonym, George Eliot was one of the most successful yet controversial writers of the Victorian period. Today she is considered a key figure for women’s writing and her novels, including The Mill on the Floss and Middlemarch, are commonly ranked as literary classics.This guide to Eliot’s enduringly popular work offers:an accessible introduction to the contexts and many interpretations of Eliot’s texts, from publication to the present an introduction to key critical texts and perspectives on Eliot’s life and work, situated in a broader critical history cross-references between sections of the guide, in order to suggest links between texts, contexts and criticism suggestions for further reading. Part of the Routledge Guides to Literature series, this volume is essential reading for all those beginning detailed study of George Eliot and seeking not only a guide to her works but also a way through the wealth of contextual and critical material that surrounds them.

As a woman in an illegal marriage, publishing under a male pseudonym, George Eliot was one of the most successful yet controversial writers of the Victorian period. Today she is considered a key figure for women’s writing and her novels, including The Mill on the Floss and Middlemarch, are commonly ranked as literary classics.This guide to Eliot’s enduringly popular work offers:an accessible introduction to the contexts and many interpretations of Eliot’s texts, from publication to the present an introduction to key critical texts and perspectives on Eliot’s life and work, situated in a broader critical history cross-references between sections of the guide, in order to suggest links between texts, contexts and criticism suggestions for further reading. Part of the Routledge Guides to Literature series, this volume is essential reading for all those beginning detailed study of George Eliot and seeking not only a guide to her works but also a way through the wealth of contextual and critical material that surrounds them.

So many questions surround the key figures in the English literary canon, but most books focus on one aspect of an author's life or work, or limit themselves to a single critical approach. D. H. Lawrence is a comprehensive, user-friendly guide which:* offers basic information on Lawrence's, contexts and works* outlines the major critical issues surrounding his works, from the time they were written to the present* explain the full range of often very different critical views and interpretation* offer guides to further reading in each area discussed.This guidebook has a broad focus but one very clear aim: to equip you with all the knowledge you need to make your own new readings of the work of D. H. Lawrence.

So many questions surround the key figures in the English literary canon, but most books focus on one aspect of an author's life or work, or limit themselves to a single critical approach. D. H. Lawrence is a comprehensive, user-friendly guide which:* offers basic information on Lawrence's, contexts and works* outlines the major critical issues surrounding his works, from the time they were written to the present* explain the full range of often very different critical views and interpretation* offer guides to further reading in each area discussed.This guidebook has a broad focus but one very clear aim: to equip you with all the knowledge you need to make your own new readings of the work of D. H. Lawrence.

Samuel Beckett's work forever changed the concepts of literature and theatre. His work remains a core part of introductory courses on literary history, drama, theatre or performance and also features in more specialist modules such as Modernism or The Absurd. Samuel Beckett is a comprehensive introduction to his life and work as well as an outline of the critical issues surrounding his work. This guidebook leaves judgements up to the student by explaining the full range of often very different critical views and interpretations and offers guides to further reading in each area discussed.

Samuel Beckett's work forever changed the concepts of literature and theatre. His work remains a core part of introductory courses on literary history, drama, theatre or performance and also features in more specialist modules such as Modernism or The Absurd. Samuel Beckett is a comprehensive introduction to his life and work as well as an outline of the critical issues surrounding his work. This guidebook leaves judgements up to the student by explaining the full range of often very different critical views and interpretations and offers guides to further reading in each area discussed.

Next to Shakespeare, Ben Jonson is perhaps the most widely studied Renaissance dramatist. Very few students of literature or drama would not encounter Volpone or Bartholomew Fair in the course of their studies, and there has been a recent resurgence of interest in Epicoene , or the Silent Women amongst gender theorists. This volume offers the broadest range of information on Jonson and his works, from background on contexts to details of recent interpretations of his plays. A must for students of the Renaissance.

Next to Shakespeare, Ben Jonson is perhaps the most widely studied Renaissance dramatist. Very few students of literature or drama would not encounter Volpone or Bartholomew Fair in the course of their studies, and there has been a recent resurgence of interest in Epicoene , or the Silent Women amongst gender theorists. This volume offers the broadest range of information on Jonson and his works, from background on contexts to details of recent interpretations of his plays. A must for students of the Renaissance.

Accessibly written throughout, this guidebook covers biographical details, information on the historical and social contexts of Browning's work, an overview of the full range of his work and a survey of the major critical debates surrounding him and his work.

Accessibly written throughout, this guidebook covers biographical details, information on the historical and social contexts of Browning's work, an overview of the full range of his work and a survey of the major critical debates surrounding him and his work.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is one of the most widely studied works of English literature, and Frankenstein's creature is a key figure in the popular imagination.This sourcebook examines Mary Shelley's novel within its literary and cultural contexts, bringing together material on:*the contexts from which Frankenstein emerged*the novel's early reception*adaptation and performance of the work (from theatre to pop music)*recent criticism.All documents are discussed and explained. The volume also includes offers carefully annotated key passages from the novel itself and concludes with a list of recommended editions and further reading, to allow readers to pursue their study in the areas that interest them most. This sourcebook provides an ideal orientation to the novel, its reception history and the critical material that surrounds it.

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is one of the most widely studied works of English literature, and Frankenstein's creature is a key figure in the popular imagination.This sourcebook examines Mary Shelley's novel within its literary and cultural contexts, bringing together material on:*the contexts from which Frankenstein emerged*the novel's early reception*adaptation and performance of the work (from theatre to pop music)*recent criticism.All documents are discussed and explained. The volume also includes offers carefully annotated key passages from the novel itself and concludes with a list of recommended editions and further reading, to allow readers to pursue their study in the areas that interest them most. This sourcebook provides an ideal orientation to the novel, its reception history and the critical material that surrounds it.

William Shakespeare's Othello (1601-2) has delighted and disturbed theatre audiences for the past four centuries, and remains one of the most frequently performed and widely studied of his plays. This volume is a broad-ranging guide to Othello, providing an introduction to:*the contexts of the play, through a concise, accessible overview, a chronology and reprinted documents from the period*the range of critical responses to the play, through a brief critical history and reprinted critical texts, accompanied by explanatory headnotes*the play in performance, through a selection of clearly introduced readings on this topic, along with illustrations.The sourcebook then examines key passages of the play in detail. Each passage is reprinted in full, along with a headnote and annotations offering crucial guidance to Shakespeare's language and the critical issues which surround the text. Throughout the volume, cross-references link together the contextual materials, critical responses and the play's text.If you are beginning to study Othello, this sourcebook is the one guide you cannot afford to be without.

William Shakespeare's Othello (1601-2) has delighted and disturbed theatre audiences for the past four centuries, and remains one of the most frequently performed and widely studied of his plays. This volume is a broad-ranging guide to Othello, providing an introduction to:*the contexts of the play, through a concise, accessible overview, a chronology and reprinted documents from the period*the range of critical responses to the play, through a brief critical history and reprinted critical texts, accompanied by explanatory headnotes*the play in performance, through a selection of clearly introduced readings on this topic, along with illustrations.The sourcebook then examines key passages of the play in detail. Each passage is reprinted in full, along with a headnote and annotations offering crucial guidance to Shakespeare's language and the critical issues which surround the text. Throughout the volume, cross-references link together the contextual materials, critical responses and the play's text.If you are beginning to study Othello, this sourcebook is the one guide you cannot afford to be without.

Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) is the founding text of modern feminism. In this sourcebook, Adriana Craciun provides the ideal starting point for students new to Wollstonecraft's revolutionary work, providing carefully focused introductory materials combined with reprinted and newly annotated source documents.Key materials in this sourcebook include:*letters by Wollstonecraft and important contemporary documents*nineteenth-century responses to the text*twentieth-century critical readings*annotated key passages, cross-referenced to critical texts*suggestions for further reading.This is the essential guide to a key literary and political text.

Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) is the founding text of modern feminism. In this sourcebook, Adriana Craciun provides the ideal starting point for students new to Wollstonecraft's revolutionary work, providing carefully focused introductory materials combined with reprinted and newly annotated source documents.Key materials in this sourcebook include:*letters by Wollstonecraft and important contemporary documents*nineteenth-century responses to the text*twentieth-century critical readings*annotated key passages, cross-referenced to critical texts*suggestions for further reading.This is the essential guide to a key literary and political text.

This sourcebook clearly introduces the many critical issues surrounding this complex and haunting play. Ioppolo examines sources from Holinshed to Spenser, and in the Interpretations section looks at critical readings and notable performances of the play. These range from early critical responses and performances to recent stage and screen interpretations. Edited key passages connect the play to its contexts and criticism, providing both a guide to and a new perspective on King Lear. Careful annotation explains Shakespeare's language. This is the ideal introduction for undergraduates, providing orientation in the play, its reception history and the critical material that surrounds it.

This sourcebook clearly introduces the many critical issues surrounding this complex and haunting play. Ioppolo examines sources, from Holinshed to Spencer, and in the Interpretations section looks at critical readings and notable performances of the play. These range from early critical responses and performances to recent stage and screen interpretations. Edited key passages connect the play to its contexts and criticism, providing both a guide and a new perspective on King Lear. Careful annotation explains Shakespeare's language. This is the ideal introduction for undergraduates, providing orientation in the play, its reception history and the critical material which surrounds it. It examines King Lear within its literary and cultural contexts, bringing together:*contemporary documents surrounding King Lear*performance history*early critical reception from major critics*twentieth-century criticism*key passages.All documents are discussed and explained. The volume also offers carefully annotated key passages from the play itself and concludes with a list of recommended editions and further reading, allowing readers to pursue their study in the areas that interest them most. Grace Ioppolo's broad-ranging analysis and the wealth of materials she brings together make this the ideal guide for any student of King Lear.

First published in book form in 1852, Uncle Tom's Cabin quickly became a bestseller, recognised as a powerful contribution to anti-slavery debates. After more than 150 years, it remains one of the most widely discussed works of American literature. Debra Rosenthal:*examines the life and career of Harriet Beecher Stowe*sets the novel within its cultural contexts and reprints related documents from the period*surveys criticism of the book from publication to the present*reprints extracts from reviews and key critical texts*annotates crucial passages from the novel, linking them to the contextual and critical materials included elsewhere in the sourcebook*suggests directions for further reading.Bringing together a wealth of material with clear critical commentary, Debra Rosenthal offers the ideal starting point for anyone beginning to study this crucial American novel.

First published in book form in 1852, Uncle Tom's Cabin quickly became a bestseller, recognised as a powerful contribution to anti-slavery debates. After more than 150 years, it remains one of the most widely discussed works of American literature. Debra Rosenthal:*examines the life and career of Harriet Beecher Stowe*sets the novel within its cultural contexts and reprints related documents from the period*surveys criticism of the book from publication to the present*reprints extracts from reviews and key critical texts*annotates crucial passages from the novel, linking them to the contextual and critical materials included elsewhere in the sourcebook*suggests directions for further reading.Bringing together a wealth of material with clear critical commentary, Debra Rosenthal offers the ideal starting point for anyone beginning to study this crucial American novel.

Deeply involved with Irish culture and history, W. B. Yeats (1865-1939) is one of the greatest poets writing in the last two centuries. This sourcebook provides essential help for readers who wish to learn more about his powerful, haunting poems.Considering Yeats's early, dreamily evocative poems as well as his passionate, tension-ridden later work, Michael O'Neill offers a refreshingly clear discussion of:*contexts - through an invaluable, accessible overview, a detailed chronology and contemporary documents revealing Yeats's understanding of his vocation as a poet;*interpretations - through helpfully introduced extracts from criticism of Yeats's work, ranging from early responses through to modern critical texts;*key poems - in a section where insightful commentary accompanies the full annotated text of many of Yeats's major poems;*further reading - to guide those interested in additional study.This sourcebook is ideal for those new to Yeats's poetry or those who wish to look deeper into its workings, its reception and the contexts from which it emerged.

Deeply involved with Irish culture and history, W. B. Yeats (1865-1939) is one of the greatest poets writing in the last two centuries. This sourcebook provides essential help for readers who wish to learn more about his powerful, haunting poems.Considering Yeats's early, dreamily evocative poems as well as his passionate, tension-ridden later work, Michael O'Neill offers a refreshingly clear discussion of:*contexts - through an invaluable, accessible overview, a detailed chronology and contemporary documents revealing Yeats's understanding of his vocation as a poet;*interpretations - through helpfully introduced extracts from criticism of Yeats's work, ranging from early responses through to modern critical texts;*key poems - in a section where insightful commentary accompanies the full annotated text of many of Yeats's major poems;*further reading - to guide those interested in additional study.This sourcebook is ideal for those new to Yeats's poetry or those who wish to look deeper into its workings, its reception and the contexts from which it emerged.

This sourcebook offers the ideal introduction to the work of John Keats, a central figure in English Romanticism and one of the most popular poets in the literary canon.The sourcebook is arranged in four sections: Contexts, Interpretations, Key Poems and Further Reading. Each combines clear introductory passgaes with relevant reprinted documents. Key features include:a chronology of Keats's life and excerpts from his lettersan overview of the criticism of his work, from early responses to important recent essaysexcerpts from a range of critical texts, with explanatory headnotesextensively annotated full texts or key passages from Keats's most widely studied poemshelpful recommendations for further reading.Cross-referencing throughout the volume highlights the links between texts, contexts and reception, enabling even beginners to make original and informed readings of Keats's époque-changing work.