Leading scholar Albert Russell Ascoli traces the metamorphosis of Dante Alighieri - minor Florentine aristocrat, political activist and exile, amateur philosopher and theologian, daring experimental poet - into Dante, author of the Divine Comedy and perhaps the most self-consciously 'authoritative' cultural figure in the Western canon.
This supplement focuses on contemporary writers, many of whom have received little sustained attention from critics. Some of important writers from the past have already attracted a good deal of sustained attention, and their work is often taught in college courses, but for various reasons their careers have not yet been discussed in American Writers. The poets included here are well known in the poetry world, and their work has in each case been honored with major literary prizes.
The Drama 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Plays of All Time
Which plays are truly great, and why? This fascinating reference profiles 100 of the greatest plays drawn from all cultures and periods of literature. Compiled in consultation with literary scholars, "The Drama 100" is sure to engage students and theatergoers in a spirited discussion of literary values.
American Literature and the Free Market, 1945-2000
Added by: fouroulou | Karma: 1009.06 | Non-Fiction, Literature Studies | 10 July 2010
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American Literature and the Free Market, 1945-2000
The years after World War Two have seen a widespread fascination with the free market. Michael W. Clune considers this fascination in postwar literature. In the fictional worlds created by works ranging from Frank O'Hara's poetry to nineties gangster rap, the market is transformed, offering an alternative form of life, distinct from both the social visions of the left and the individualist ethos of the right.
Invisible Man, published in 1954, was Ralph Ellison's masterpiece and strongly influenced the rest of his life. He was known for his refusal to be categorized as a "black writer." Learn more about Ellison with this text, which includes an extensive biography of the author, literary criticism, a list of works by and about the author, and more.
