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Victorian Literature: A Sourcebook (Palgrave Sourcebooks)
by John Plunkett Ana Parejo Vadillo Regenia GagnierAn anthology of both familiar and previously unavailable primary texts that illuminate the world of nineteenth-century ideas. An expert team introduce and annotate a range of original social, cultural, political and historical documents necessary for contextualising key literary texts from the Victorian period.
Victorian Sensation Fiction (Readers' Guides to Essential Criticism)
by Jessica CoxSince the establishment of sensation fiction in the 1860s, key trends have emerged in critical readings of these texts. From Victorian responses emphasising the 'lowbrow' or potentially dangerous qualities of the genre to the prolific critical attention of the present day, this Reader's Guide identifies the dominant approaches to sensation fiction and charts the critical trends of various scholarly evaluations and interpretations. With coverage spanning empire, class, sexuality and adaptation, this is the ideal companion for students of Victorian Literature looking for an introduction to the key debates surrounding sensation fiction.
Gabriel García Márquez (Readers' Guides to Essential Criticism)
by Jay CorwinGabriel García Márquez is considered one of the most significant authors in the Spanish language. Rising to prominence with One Hundred Years of Solitude, his fiction is widely read and studied throughout the world. This invaluable Guide gives a wide-ranging but in-depth survey of the global debate over García Márquez's fiction. It explores the major critical responses to his key works, devoting two whole chapters to One Hundred Years of Solitude. It also examines García Márquez's lesser-known short fiction, his place in the Boom, magical realism and his influence on other writers. Jay Corwin discusses both European and US-centric interpretations, balancing these with indigenous and Hispanic contexts to give the reader an overarching understanding of the global reception of García Márquez's work.
A Brief History of English Literature
by John Peck Martin CoyleThis new edition of an established text provides a succinct and up-to-date historical overview of the story of English literature. Focusing on how writing both reflects and challenges the periods in which it is produced, John Peck and Martin Coyle combine close readings of key texts with recent critical thinking on the interaction of literary works and culture. Providing a lively introductory guide to English literature from Beowulf to the present day, the authors write in their characteristically lucid and accessible style.A true masterpiece of clarity and compression, this is essential reading for undergraduate students coming across the vast areas of English literature for the first time and looking for a way of making critical sense of the texts being studied. In addition, the concise nature and narrative structure of this book makes it excellent reading for general readers.New to this Edition:- Revised chapter on twentieth century literature- Complete new chapter on twenty-first century literature- Updated Chronology and Further Reading section
A History of English Literature (Macmillan Foundations Series)
by Michael AlexanderThis comprehensive text traces the development of one of the world's richest literatures from the Old English period through to the present day, discussing a wide range of key authors without losing its clarity or verve. Building on the book's established reputation and success, the third edition has been revised and updated throughout. It now provides a full final chapter on the contemporary scene, with more on genres and the impact of globalization.This accessible book remains the essential companion for students of English literature and literary history, or for anyone wishing to follow the unfolding of writing in England from its beginnings. It is ideal for those who know a few landmark texts, but little of the literary landscape that surrounds them; those who want to know what English literature consists of; and those who simply want to read its fascinating story.New to this Edition:- Fully revised throughout- A full final chapter on contemporary writing, with closer attention paid to the growing diversity of literatures in English in the British Isles
Contemporary British Drama (Readers' Guides to Essential Criticism)
by Catherine ReesThis guide offers a comprehensive account of British theatre from the 1960s to the present day. Placing critical commentary at the heart of its analysis, it explores how theatre critics and scholars have sought to understand and write about modern theatre, from the earliest reviews to revivals appearing decades later. With studies of contemporary reviews and archival material, Contemporary British Drama offers readers the opportunity to learn about British theatre in its original context and to chart shifting critical perceptions over the decades. It provides a crucial juxtaposition between the development of British theatre and its contemporaneous critical response, supplying an invaluable insight into the critical climate of recent decades. From feminist playwrighting to In-Yer-Face theatre, this is the ideal companion for undergraduate students of literature and theatre in need of an introduction to the debates surrounding contemporary British drama.
Creative Writing: Drafting, Revising and Editing
by Donna Lee Brien Gail Pittaway Russell Carpenter Karen Head Justine Mann Kathleen Ahrens Michael Kardos Kim Wiltshire Craig Batty Stayci Taylor Nigel McLoughlin Laurence Davis Elizabeth Maldonado Resa BizzaroThis stimulating edited collection focuses on the practice of revision across all creative writing genres, providing a guide to the modes and methods of drafting, revising and editing. Offering an overview of how creative writing is generated and improved, the chapters address questions of how creative writers revise, why editing is such a crucial part of the creative process and how understanding the theories underpinning revision can enhance writers' projects. Innovative and thought-provoking, this book is ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate students of creative writing, along with all creative writers looking to hone and polish their craft.
Starting an English Literature Degree
by Andrew GreenCompetition to study English Literature at university is now tougher than ever before. How can you make sure your application stands out?What is expected of you at university? How will you adapt to the changes in teaching, learning and lifestyle?The world of English Literature is an unfamiliar yet exciting one, and clear guidance on how to cope with the demands of university-level study is essential if you want to succeed.Andrew Green takes you from the A level/school/college classroom to the university lecture theatre, covering everything from:- Deciding which university and course is right for you- Making initial applications- Tackling Summer reading lists to the skills needed for studying at degree level: - Preparing for lectures, seminars and tutorials- Interpreting reading lists and developing your reading skills - Applying literary theory- Becoming a better writer - Referencing an essay and avoiding plagiarism- Researching onlineWhether you are just thinking about taking English Literature to degree level, or needing help through your university course, Starting an English Literature Degree is the must-have companion.
The Magic of Writing
by Adrian MayIn this engaging guide, teacher, poet and lyricist Adrian May shows how magic is a tool used by writers to generate creativity, where concepts of magic are seen as portals of creative power. This unique book features approachable chapters on aspects of magic and writing - such as the Tarot and the creative methods of W. B. Yeats. Blending literary criticism with practical exercises, this text will enable readers to understand the magical nature of creative writing, giving them a sense of wider possibilities and equipping them to improve their creative writing.This an ideal resource for undergraduate or postgraduate students taking courses on Creative Writing, as well as established or budding writers working independently.
Tragedy (Readers' Guides to Essential Criticism)
by Sarah Dewar-WatsonTragedy is one of the oldest and most revered forms of literature in the western world. Over the centuries, tragedy has shown a tremendous capacity to reinvent itself, often emerging at crucial moments in the evolution of cultural, political and intellectual history.Not only is tragedy marked by its diversity, the critical literature surrounding the genre is equally diverse. This Reader's Guide offers a comprehensive introduction to the key criticism and debates on tragedy, from Aristotle through to the present day. Sarah Dewar-Watson presents the work of canonical theorists and lesser-known but, nonetheless, influential critics, bringing together a strong sense of the critical tradition and an awareness of current scholarly trends.Stimulating and engaging, this essential resource helps students to navigate their way around the subject of tragedy and its rich critical terrain.
Writing Jewish: Contemporary British-Jewish Literature
by Ruth GilbertBritish-Jewish writers are increasingly addressing challenging questions about what it means to be both British and Jewish in the twenty-first century. Writing Jewish provides a lively and accessible introduction to the key issues in contemporary British-Jewish fiction, memoirs and journalism, and explores how Jewishness exists alongside a range of other different identities in Britain today.By interrogating myths and stereotypes and looking at themes of remembering and forgetting, belonging and alienation, location and dislocation, Ruth Gilbert examines how these writers identify the particularity of their difference – while acknowledging that this difference is neither fixed nor final, but always open to re-interpretation.
Writing Song Lyrics: A Creative and Critical Approach (Approaches to Writing)
by Glenn Fosbraey Andrew MelroseThis book is unique in offering practical advice on writing song lyrics within a critically informed framework. Part I provides the theoretical underpinning, while Part II covers the creative process, pulling together all the best songwriting advice and offering practical exercises. Fusing creative guidance with rigorous criticism, this is an essential companion for undergraduate and postgraduate students of songwriting, creative writing and music. Lively and accessible, it is a one-stop shop for all aspiring songwriters.
Literature and Science: Scientific Performance On Street, Stage And Screen (Readers' Guides to Essential Criticism #61)
by Martin WillisThis Guide introduces literature and science as a vibrant field of critical study that is increasingly influencing both university curricula and future areas of investigation. Martin Willis explores the development of the genre and its surrounding criticism from the early modern period to the present day, focusing on key texts, topics and debates.
Dickens to Hardy 1837-1884: The Novel, the Past and Cultural Memory in the Nineteenth Century (Transitions)
by Julian WolfreysThis authoritative survey examines how the Victorian middle-classes perceived themselves, through analyses of the literature of the period. Asking how the middle classes distinguished themselves from their forbears, Julian Wolfreys reads in detail major novels by:- Charles Dickens- Elizabeth Gaskell- Wilkie Collins- George Eliot - Thomas Hardy.Wolfreys explores the novelists' constructions of modernity, national identity and their understanding of 'becoming historical' in distinction from that of previous generations. He offers illuminating close readings of texts and examines narratives set in a recent past in order to investigate the role of cultural memory in the making of identity. Also featuring a helpful Chronology and an Annotated Bibliography to aid further study, this stimulating guide encourages readers to reassess the work of key writers of the nineteenth century.
Homi K. Bhabha (Transitions)
by Eleanor ByrneThis comprehensive introduction to the work of Homi K. Bhabha, a key figure in both postcolonial and post-structuralist theory, is accessible and engaging. It places Bhabha's work in context, considers his effect on contemporary criticism, offers readings of a range of texts to illustrate his theories, and features an interview with the theorist.
Issues in Contemporary Critical Theory: A Selection of Critical Essays (Casebooks Series)
by Peter BarryGeneral Editor's Preface.- Introduction.- PART 1 EARLY MODERN VIEWPOINTS: CRITICAL BACKGROUND TO CONTEMPORARY DEBATES.- PART 2 THE MAJOR ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY DEBATES.- Is Theory Necessary ? (Empiricism vs Theoreticism).- What Does the Literary Work Represent'.- Is Literature Language? (The Claims of Stylistics).- What is Deconstruction'.- What is the Reader's Place'.- PART 3 THE NEW THEORIES IN PRACTICE.- Fiction Poetry Drama.- Select Bibliography.- Notes on Contributors.- Acknowledgements.- Index.
Jacques Lacan: Psychoanalysis and the Subject of Literature (Transitions)
by Jean-Michel RabatéThe French theorist Lacan has always been called a 'literary' theoretician. Here is, for the first time, a complete study of his literary analyses and examples, with an account of the importance of literature in the building of his highly original system of thought. Rabate offers a systematic genealogy of Lacan's theory of literature, reconstructing a doctrine based upon Freudian insights, and revitalised through close readings of authors as diverse as Poe, Gide, Shakespeare, Plato, Claudel, Genet, Duras and Joyce. Not simply an essay about Lacan's influences or style, this book shows how the emergence of key terms like the 'letter' and the 'symptom' would not have been possible without innovative readings of literary texts.
Posthumanism: Posthumanism And The Other Within (Readers in Cultural Criticism)
by Neil BadmingtonWhat is posthumanism and why does it matter? This reader offers an introduction to the ways in which humanism's belief in the natural supremacy of the Family of Man has been called into question at different moments and from different theoretical positions. What is the relationship between posthumanism and technology? Can posthumanism have a politics - post-colonial or feminist? Are postmodernism and poststructuralism posthumanist? What happens when critical theory meets Hollywood cinema? What links posthumanism to science fiction? Posthumanism addresses these and other questions in an attempt to come to terms with one of the most pressing issues facing contemporary society.
Postmodern Narrative Theory (Transitions)
by Mark CurrieHow have developments in literary and cultural theory transformed our understanding of narrative? What has happened to narrative in the wake of poststructuralism? What is the role and function of narrative in the contemporary world?In this revised, updated and expanded new edition of an established text, Mark Currie explores these central questions and guides students through the complex theories that have shaped the study of narrative in recent decades. Postmodern Narrative Theory, Second Edition:• establishes direct links between the workings of fictional narratives and those of the non-fictional world• charts the transition in narrative theory from its formalist beginnings, through deconstruction, towards its current concerns with the social, cultural and cognitive uses of narrative• explores the relationship between postmodern narrative and postmodern theory more closely• presents detailed illustrative readings of known literary texts such as Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Conrad's Heart of Darkness, and now features a new chapter on Coetzee's Elizabeth Costello and Slow Man.Approachable and stimulating, this is an essential introduction for anyone studying postmodernism, the theory of narrative or contemporary fiction.
Queer Theory (Readers in Cultural Criticism)
by Iain Morland Dino WilloxQueer Theory is one of the most contested and intellectually complex movements in contemporary sexual politics. Where did it come from, and what does it do? Is queer theory only for queers? If you have ever wanted to be a leather daddy, been puzzled by performativity, tried to measure bisexuality, or wondered whether Diana, Princess of Wales could be a gay icon, Queer Theory is required reading.This vibrant anthology of groundbreaking work by influential scholars, activists, performers, and visual artists is essential for anyone with an interest in sexuality studies or gender activism. The 15 articles - including two specially commissioned contributions, as well as an engaging introduction - map, contextualise, and challenge queer theory's project both within and beyond the academy. Helpful critical summaries that link the selections, and suggestions for further reading, make this volume perfect for anyone approaching queer theory for the first time.
Roland Barthes (Transitions)
by Martin McQuillanRoland Barthes was one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century, but why should the reader of today, or tomorrow, be concerned with him? Martin McQuillan provides a fresh perspective on Barthes, addressing his political and institutional inheritance and considering his work as the origins of a critical cultural studies.This stimulating study:- Provides a biographical consideration of Barthes' writing- Offers an extended reading of his 1957 text Mythologies as a text for our own time, drawing Barthes' work into a historical relation to the present- Examines his connection to what we call cultural studies- Features an annotated bibliography of Barthes' published workThought-provoking and insightful, Roland Barthes is essential reading for anyone who is interested in the writings of this key theorist and his continuing relevance in our post-9/11 world.
Subjectivity (Transitions)
by Ruth RobbinsWho do you think you are? In Subjectivity, Ruth Robbins explores some of the responses to this fundamental question. In readings of a number of autobiographical texts from the last three centuries, Robbins offers an approachable account of formations of the self which demonstrates that both psychology and material conditions - often in tension with one another - are the building blocks of modern notions of selfhood. Key texts studied include:- William Wordsworth's Prelude- Thomas De Quincey's Confessions of an English Opium Eater- James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man- Oscar Wilde's De Profundis- Jung Chang's Wild SwansRobbins also argues that our subjectivity, far from being the secure possession of the individual, is potentially fragile and contingent. She shows that the versions of subjectivity authorized by the dominant culture are full of gaps and blindspots that undo any notion of universal human nature: subjectivity is culturally and historically specific - we are, in part, what the culture in which we live permits us to be.Concise and easy-to-follow, this introduction to the concept of subjectivity, and the theories surrounding it, shows that, in spite of the insecurity of selfhood, there is still much to be gained from the textual encounter with other selves. It is essential reading for all those studying 'autobiography' or 'autobiographical writing'.
Transgression: Identity, Space, Time (Transitions)
by Julian WolfreysJulian Wolfreys introduces students to the central concept of transgression, showing how to interpret the concept from a number of theoretical standpoints. He demonstrates how texts from different cultural and historical periods can be read to examine the workings of 'transgression' and the way in which it has changed over time.
Staging the End of the World: Theatre in a Time of Climate Crisis
by Brian KulickThis book is a brief history of the end of the world as seen through the eyes of theatre. Since its inception, theatre has staged the fall of empires, floods, doomsdays, shipwrecks, earthquakes, plagues, environmental degradations, warfare, nuclear annihilation, and the catastrophic effects of climate change. Using a wide range of plays alongside contemporary thinkers, this study helps guide and galvanize the reader in grappling with the climate crisis. Kulick divides this litany of theatrical cataclysms into four distinct historical phases: the Ancients, including Euripides and Bhasa, the legendary Sanskrit dramatist; the Age of Belief, with the anonymous authors of the medieval mystery cycles, Shakespeare, and Pushkin; the Moderns, with Ibsen, Chekhov, Brecht, Beckett, and Bond; and, finally, the way the world might end now, encompassing Caryl Churchill, Tony Kushner, and Anne Washburn. In tandem with the insights gleaned from these playwrights, the book draws upon the work of contemporary scientists, ecologists, and ethicists to further tease out the philosophical implications of such plays and their relevance to our own troubled times. In the end, Kulick shows how each of these ages and their respective authors have something essential to say, not only about humanity's potential end, but, more importantly, about the possibility for our collective continuance.
Staging the End of the World: Theatre in a Time of Climate Crisis
by Brian KulickThis book is a brief history of the end of the world as seen through the eyes of theatre. Since its inception, theatre has staged the fall of empires, floods, doomsdays, shipwrecks, earthquakes, plagues, environmental degradations, warfare, nuclear annihilation, and the catastrophic effects of climate change. Using a wide range of plays alongside contemporary thinkers, this study helps guide and galvanize the reader in grappling with the climate crisis. Kulick divides this litany of theatrical cataclysms into four distinct historical phases: the Ancients, including Euripides and Bhasa, the legendary Sanskrit dramatist; the Age of Belief, with the anonymous authors of the medieval mystery cycles, Shakespeare, and Pushkin; the Moderns, with Ibsen, Chekhov, Brecht, Beckett, and Bond; and, finally, the way the world might end now, encompassing Caryl Churchill, Tony Kushner, and Anne Washburn. In tandem with the insights gleaned from these playwrights, the book draws upon the work of contemporary scientists, ecologists, and ethicists to further tease out the philosophical implications of such plays and their relevance to our own troubled times. In the end, Kulick shows how each of these ages and their respective authors have something essential to say, not only about humanity's potential end, but, more importantly, about the possibility for our collective continuance.