This Companion provides an accessible introduction to Martin Luther for students of theology and history and everyone interested in the life, work and thought of the first great Protestant reformer. Historians and theologians present a complete picture of Luther's major writing themes and the ways in which his ideas spread and continue to be important. The Companion is oriented to those with little or no background in Luther studies, as well as teachers and specialists.
English poetry in the first half of the seventeenth century, an outstandingly rich and varied body of verse, can be understood and appreciated more fully when set in its cultural and ideological context. This introductory Companion, consisting of fourteen new introductory essays by scholars of international standing, provides individual studies of Donne, Jonson, Herrick, Herbert, Carew, Suckling, Lovelace, Milton, Crashaw, Vaughan and Marvell, together with general essays on the political, social context, and the relationship of poetry to the mutations and developments of genre and tradition.
This Companion provides a full introduction to the poetry of William Shakespeare through discussion of his freestanding narrative poems, the Sonnets, and his plays. Fourteen leading international scholars provide accessible and authoritative chapters on all relevant topics: from Shakespeare's seminal role in the development of English poetry, the wide-ranging practice of his poetic form, and his enigmatic place in print and manuscript culture, to his immersion in English Renaissance politics, religion, classicism, and gender dynamics.
Along with Aesop and the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen ranks among the greatest writers of fairy tales. Famous tales include 'The Little Mermaid', 'The Emperor's New Suit', 'The Pen and Inkstand', and 'The Ugly Duckling'. This title examines the major works of Hans Christian Andersen through full-length critical essays. In addition, the book features a chronology of the author's life, an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, an index, a bibliography, and a chronology.
Robert Louis Stevenson is the famous Scottish author of 'Kidnapped', 'Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde', and 'Treasure Island'. This collection of critical essays on his major works is enhanced by a chronology, bibliography, and notes on the contributors, as well as an introductory essay by noted literary scholar Harold Bloom.
