The most striking difference between Othello and Shakespeare's other tragedies is its more intimate scale. Since the play focuses on personal rather than public life, Othello's private descent into jealous obsession is rendered all the more chilling to behold. This invaluable literary reference guide to one of Shakespeare's greatest plays contains a selection of the finest contemporary criticism, an introductory essay by Shakespearean scholar Harold Bloom, an index for easy reference, a bibliography, and a chronology of the playwright's life. .
In this dazzling short meditation on the nature of human relationships, noted Bulgarian philosopher Tzvetan Todorov makes a scholarly yet readable contribution to contemporary debates about the self. Arguing that philosophic thought equated solitude with wholeness until Rousseau "formulated a new conception of man as a being who needs others," Todorov traces the evolution of Rousseau's idea in the modern era and contemporary ideology.
Painting on Porcelain: Traditional and Contemporary Designs
Every stage of the process of painting on porcelain is described - from using and combining colours, applying the design, sketching and shading, through to firing and finishing the final piece of porcelain. There are over 70 contemporary and traditional designs illustrated, with flowers, insects, birds and abstract designs being just some of the subjects used to decorate plates, teapots and eggs.
Encyclopedia of Contemporary Writers and Their Work (Literary Movements)
Encyclopedia of Contemporary Writers and Their Work is an invaluable guide to English-language fiction writers born after 1959 and their best work. Coverage includes some of the most vital and appealing writers working today, such as Chang-rae Lee, Michael Chabon, Zadie Smith, and Dave Eggers. Containing more than 200 entries written by literary scholars, this resource provides a comprehensive overview of the best writers and works of the current English-speaking literary world.
Supplement XII centers on contemporary writers from various genres and traditions who have had little sustained attention from critics, although most are well known. Among the poets discussed are Fleur Adcock, Kamau Brathwaite, G.F. Dutton, Peter Fallon, Hugh MacDiarmid, and R.S. Thomas. A fair number of contemporary fiction writers are considered, including Peter Carey, Louis De-Bernières, Janice Galloway, Philip Kerr, David Malouf, and Patrick O’Brian.
