Perhaps best recognized for the horror films it has spawned, "Frankenstein", written by 19-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, was first published in 1818. "Frankenstein: Or The Modern Prometheus" warns against the "advancements" of modern man and the industrial revolution. Whether for research or general interest, "Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations" furnishes students with a collection of the most insightful critical essays available on this Gothic thriller, selected from a variety of literary sources.
Happiness Around the WorldFor centuries the pursuit of happiness was the preserve of either the philosopher or the voluptuary and took second place to the basic need to survive on the one hand, and the pressure to conform to social conventions and morality on the other. More recently there is a burgeoning interest in the study of happiness, in the social sciences and in the media. Can we really answer the question what makes people happy? Is it really grounded in credible methods and data? Is there consistency in the determinants of happiness across countries and cultures?
An inquiry into the meaning of the American Dream, "Death of a Salesman" is Arthur Miller's most famous play and won him a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award. 'Attention must be paid' to its lead character, Willy Loman (played over time by Lee J. Cobb, George C. Scott, Dustin Hoffman, and Brian Dennehy, among others), who has come to represent the middle-class struggle. Readers seeking in-depth analysis of this affecting drama will appreciate this fully updated "Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations" study.
"The Crucible" still has permanence and relevance a half century after its initial publication. This powerful political drama set amidst the Salem witch trials is commonly understood as Arthur Miller's poignant response to McCarthyism. Filled with fresh essays about the play, the new edition of this invaluable literary guide features a bibliography and notes on the essay contributors.
A psychological novel in the great Russian tradition, Crime and Punishment asks the question: What is the nature of punishment for a person who commits a crime without remorse?
