Literary History & Criticism

What is it about Stoicism that Marcus found so important then, and that millions find relevant today? In the 12 fascinating lectures of Books That Matter: Meditations, professor Massimo Pigliucci explores the questions Marcus believed were crucial to address in a life of value, the answers he proposed, and the many ways in which you can use Stoic philosophy. While Meditations was originally written for an audience of just one, what Marcus wanted to examine certainly still applies to us today. What exactly should we be mindful of in this life?

What does it take to escape the plotlines mapped onto us? Searching for clues in the work of her literary foremothers, Lipson untangles what it means to be a girl, a woman, a lover, a partner, a daughter, and a mother in a world all too ready to reduce us to stock characters.

This Very Short Introduction introduces the life, work, and influence of one of the greatest dramatists of all time, Sophocles the Athenian. Placing his plays within their historical context, and explaining the conventions of ancient Greek tragic theatre, Edith Hall spotlights their distinctive features—tight plots, titanic personalities, lucid style, sympathetic women, exquisite poetry, and stagecraft. This analysis is followed by an account of how and why Sophoclean dramas have survived to be read and widely performed into the twenty-first century.

Now in the pantheon of great thinkers, Simone Weil (1909–1943) lived largely in the shadows, searching for her spiritual home while bearing witness to the violence that devastated Europe twice in her brief lifetime. The letters she wrote to her parents and brother from childhood onward chart her intellectual range as well as her itinerancy and ever-shifting preoccupations, revealing the singular personality at the heart of her brilliant essays. The first complete collection of Weil's missives to her family, A Life in Letters offers new insight into her personal relationships and experiences.

In this Very Short Introduction, Anthony Welch places the Western epic canon alongside traditional heroic poetry from Asia, Africa, and the Near East. Tracing shared themes and practices that unite the world's epic literature, Welch examines the roles that epic poets serve in society and how epic storytelling differs from other narrative forms. Ranging widely from Gilgamesh to Derek Walcott's Omeros, the author acquaints listeners with some of the world's greatest literary works and asks why the epic holds such power over our imaginations.

Plongez au cœur de l’ambition monumentale d’Honoré de Balzac avec cet Avant-propos, véritable clé de lecture de La Comédie Humaine. Dans ce texte fondateur, l’auteur expose sa vision grandiose : dresser le portrait fidèle de la société du XIXe siècle, en saisir les mécanismes cachés, les passions dévorantes et les luttes sociales impitoyables.

Transcendentalism remains the most important literary and philosophical movement to have originated in the United States. Most accounts of it trace its emergence to a group of intellectuals dissatisfied with their religious, literary, and social culture. Yet there is a forgotten history of transcendentalism that features women who were central to the development of the movement. Bright Circle is intended to reorient our understanding of transcendentalism. It recounts the lives of Mary Moody Emerson, Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, Sophia Peabody Hawthorne, Lydia Jackson Emerson, and Margaret Fuller.

James Baldwin (1924–1987) was a pivotal figure of the twentieth century, an influential author, intellectual, and activist who led a celebrated public life—and whose words and image and persona remain current in our culture. Baldwin's many incarnations have reemerged in the digital age as Baldwin's work becomes a touchstone for a new generation. It is the private, vulnerable, and messier Baldwin—the man behind the prophet and the online meme—who is the focus of this book.

Afterlives of Endor offers an analysis of the way early modern English literature addressed the period's anxieties about witchcraft and theatricality. What determined whether or not a demonologist imagined a trial as a spectacle? What underlying epistemological constraints governed such choices and what conceptions of witchcraft did these choices reveal? Pairing readings of demonological texts with canonical plays and poetry, Laura Levine examines such questions.

Na ponta da língua não busca ser um mero guia de etimologia. Mais do que ensinar ao leitor a origem das palavras, Caetano W. Galindo—autor de Latim em pó, êxito de crítica e público—nos dá as ferramentas para que possamos, também, ser investigadores do nosso português.

Join us for a delightful journey into the culinary world of Louisa May Alcott's beloved novel Little Women. In this special episode, host Niina is joined by writer Jenne Bergstrom, author of The Little Women Cookbook, as they explore the heartwarming and relatable chapter, “Domestic Experiences.” Perfect for fans of Little Women, history enthusiasts, and food lovers alike, this episode offers a delicious blend of literature and gastronomy. Tune in and let your imagination feast on the tastes and textures of a cherished classic!

Obligatorischer Absatz: Karl Kraus gilt als einer der bedeutendsten Aphoristiker deutscher Sprache. Ob berühmte Schriftsteller oder die Presse - nichts und niemand wurde von der Kritik seiner Feder verschont. Bekannte Künstler wie Stefan Zweig, Georg Trakl, Thomas Mann und andere zollten ihm Respekt, aber die Zahl seiner Feinde in Kunst und Gesellschaft war enorm. Als Vorleser hinterließ er aufgrund seiner Sprachgewalt und Persönlichkeit angeblich einen äußerst außergewöhnlichen Eindruck.

John is the underrated love interest in the Little Women canon, but he is actually really great. He is a gentleman and a wonderful father and he adores Meg. I am joined by Little Women expert, the author of March Sisters Sweet Romance Book series, Jen Brady. In Jen's book "Falling for the tutor" we get John's point of view on things. What does he think about the March family and how did he fall in love with Meg? Join us in this wonderful discussion. We shall be discussing about Meg's character.

In The Ancient Wisdom of Baseball, author Christian Sheppard interweaves Homer’s epics with glorious stories from the green fields of America’s pastime, celebrating Achilles’ courage and Odysseus’ cunning along with the virtues of Hall of Fame players such as Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth and of great teams such as the 2004 Red Sox and the 2016 Cubs.

Dive into the fascinating world of German language and culture with One Hundred Quirky German Idioms and What They Really Mean by Johann Kluge. This engaging and entertaining book is your ultimate guide to understanding the colorful expressions that make German so unique. From "biting the grass" to "stepping on someone's tie," you'll discover the hidden meanings behind these playful phrases that leave language learners both puzzled and delighted.