The Reader's Companion to World Literature (Paperback, 2nd ed.)

A WORLD OF GREAT READING

Compiled and edited by a board of distinguished educators, this alphabetically arranged encyclopedia serves as a reader’s compass—allowing any literary explorer to navigate through the world’s most influential books, authors, literary terms, and movements. An all-in-one reference volume, it will enhance the reading pleasure of anyone who wants to understand writers in their historical setting, and relate them to their predecessors, contemporaries, and successors. Its discussion of literary works analyzes content, importance, style, and the relationship to other writing. From the myths and poems of the ancients to the radical works that changed the course of modern thought, The Reader’s Companion to World Literature charts a map of the human condition as rich, fascinating and diverse as the world itself.

The Reader’s Guide to World Literature

Includes A-to-Z listings on
Authors—supplies dates of life and works, critical evaluations of everyone from Herodotus to Hemingway.

Titles—describes in detail the most important, mentioning pertinent movements and influences from Beowulf to The Cherry Orchard.

Literary Movements—defines aims, techniques, styles and settings of Classicism, Impressionism and many others.

Historical Movements—explains background, ideals, settings for authors and works from Classic Antiquity to the Renaissance.

Technical Terms and Phrases—essential tools for students to understand in their study of literature, from ‘assonance’ to ‘trope’.