Shakespeare's tragedy about two star-crossed lovers from warring families has stirred audiences and readers alike and inspired other artists for generations. This invaluable literary reference guide offers a selection of the finest contemporary criticism of this classic Shakespeare play, plus an introduction from Shakespearean scholar Harold Bloom, a list of other works by the Bard, an annotated bibliography, and an index for easy reference.
E.L. Doctorow's Ragtime, part of Chelsea House Publishers' Bloom's Guides collection, presents concise critical excerpts from Ragtime to provide a scholarly overview of the work. This comprehensive study guide also features "The Story Behind the Story," which details the conditions under which Ragtime was written. This title also includes a short biography on Doctorow and a descriptive list of characters
In the character of Elizabeth Bennet, this comedy of manners produced one of the great heroines of English literature. Summaries with analysis review and explain the work, enhancing the reader's understanding and an annotated bibliography directs readers to additional materials.
Written by Sophocles around 425 BCE, "Oedipus Rex" is a classic Greek tragedy that depicts the struggle between man and fate. Oedipus' story forms the foundation for the symbolic conflict between sons and fathers, a theme that has lost none of its dramatic punch in the ensuing centuries. The meticulous scholarship presented in this new "Bloom's Guides" title offers its readers fresh insight into this time-honored classic.
This latest edition of the Bloom's Notes series focuses on John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Numerous critical essays examine various aspects of the piece, including the unrealistic characters, dramatic elements, the novel as a comedy, the unity of the novel, and more. The text includes a brief biography of Steinbeck, as well as structural and thematic analysis of the novel.
