Jane Austen has been one of the world's most popular writers for 200 years and is best known for her works "Pride and Prejudice", "Emma", and "Sense and Sensibility". Taught in high school and college classes across the country and appealing to both scholars and general readers, her novels, many of which have been adapted into popular films, continue to be best sellers today."Critical Companion to Jane Austen" examines her life and works, and includes critical analyses of the themes within her writing, as well as entries on related topics and relevant people, places, and influences.
Donovan's study is a wide-ranging analysis of Joseph Conrad's relation to Victorian and early twentieth century popular culture. Illustrated summaries of the development of specific popular cultural forms--songs, early cinema, magazines, advertising, and tourism--are used to underpin fresh readings of Conrad's central works. Drawing on an array of original primary materials, Donovan argues that popular culture exerted a significant influence on this major modern writer.
Covering creation, the cosmos, the sun and moon, supreme beings, floods, the natural world, fertility and birth, ancestor worship, forces of evil, divine weapons, war, spirits, love and happiness, tricksters, idols, mythical beasts, death, and the end of the world, this book leaves few stones unturned. Collected from museums worldwide, lavish photos of figurines, paintings, mosaics, masks, textiles, and other treasures display a veritable gallery of culture within these pages. Philip points out similarities of world myths and provides quite a bit of introductory information, though the sound-bite presentation that makes this series so popular cannot go into the detail that the subject deserves. There is no sense that any of the practices, such as shamanism, still exist, and the overall tone of the book is rather patriarchal. Report writers may glean a few facts, but will have to look further for more information or for the actual stories mentioned. The wealth of illustration far outweighs the literary value, but as a browsing tool, this is bound to be used.
From Normandy's top historic sights such as Mont St-Michel to the D-Day beaches to the gustatory delights of cream, Camembert, apples, cider, and Calvados - don't miss out on a thing in one of the most beautiful and popular regions of France.
Popular nonfiction is widely read and is increasingly important to the curriculum. Literature classes examine the literary characteristics of nonfiction writing, while social studies courses turn to popular nonfiction for information about social issues. In addition, public library patrons are often interested in reading nonfiction about particular topics. This guide helps students, teachers, librarians, and general readers identify popular works of nonfiction related to particular themes. The Thematic Guide to Popular Nonfiction provides alphabetically arranged extended entries on 50 themes...
