French Novelists

by Salem Press

Published 1 January 2012
French Novelists is a single-volume reference that contains selected essays from Critical Survey of Long Fiction, Fourth Edition. Every article in this set was carefully selected by our editors to provide the best information available about the topic covered. The essays in French Novelists discuss such influential writers as Simone de Beauvoir, Victor Hugo, Jean-Paul Sartre and Voltaire.

German Novelists

by Salem Press

Published 1 January 2012

This comprehensive collection provides thoughtful examination of the Authors, Works, Genres, Themes and Film Adaptations that have contributed to the popularity and success of the young adult genre.

Author Biographies-Complete coverage of 40 of the most notable young adult authors from around the world. In-depth biographies provide an overview of each author's life, influences and major works. Coverage includes such notables as C.S. Lewis, Gary Paulsen, J.K. Rowling, Judy Blume, Lois Lowry, Markus Zusak, Stephanie Meyer, and many more.

Genre Overviews-These comprehensive Genre Overviews provide a thorough examination of the genre, through the lens of three popular works. A wide variety of genres are covered, including Adventure, Apocalyptic, Christian, Graphic Novels, Humorous, LGBTQ, Paranormal, Romance, Dystopian, Steampunk, and Urban Literature.

Plot Summaries-Provides a thorough examination of 50 notable young adult works. Detailed entries being with the type of work, type, time and locale of the plot, along with principal characters. A plot summary follows, along with a detailed critical evaluation of the work's theme, style and focus.

Theme Overviews-Offers a detailed look at the most popular themes within young adult literature. Comprehensive essays take a close look at the theme, through an thought-provoking analysis of three individual works. Themes covered in this section include Alienation, Body Image, Bullying, Depression, Friendship, Good & Evil, Substance Abuse, and many others.

Film Analysis-Provides a thorough examination of over 40 popular film adaptations of young adult novels. Detailed entries analyze the literary cinematic merits of the film adaptation, while making note of the similarities and differences between the film and the book. Coverage includes The Book Thief, Divergent, Eragon, The Fault in Our Stars, Hugo, The Lovely Bones, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and many more.

The Critical Survey of Young Adult Literature provides a single source for examination of this popular genre. This new title is a must of high-school and undergraduate literature collections along with public libraries of all sizes.

Examines all 39 of the most influential plays by Shakespeare, with an in-depth examination of each play's historical significance, literary technique, and contemporary alignment.

The plays of William Shakespeare, from tragedies such as Hamlet to comedies such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, have endured since their first productions in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. A vital part of high school and college literature curricula today, these plays continue to educate and entertain, showing students - as well as the general populace - themes of humanity that have persevered throughout the ages, such as romantic love, greed, power, revenge, forgiveness, and many more.

Written by leading experts in the field of Shakespearean studies, Critical Survey of Shakespeare's Plays closely examines all 39 of Shakespeare's plays, as well as Shakespeare's life, style, technique, and influences. This title begins with a biography of Shakespeare and an introduction to his plays as a whole, followed by close readings of individual plays. Each essay is devoted to a single work and provides an in-depth critical analysis of the play's historical significance, literary/dramatic techniques, and meaning to a contemporary audience. An abstract, explanation of context, and lists of keywords, works cited, and recommended books for further study also enhance each essay.

The second half of the book focuses on various critical readings, analyzing Shakespeare's form, technique, and syntax, as well as main themes, motifs, and related topics. Also included are other resources useful to studying Shakespeare's plays, including a guide to free online sources and more literary criticism, a bibliography, a list of contributors, and a complete index.

The essays in this single volume compile the essentials for any person interested in Shakespeare, whether a student approaching his works for the first time or a habitual theatergoer about to witness a new production of one of the plays. This title is a set of essays that record the history of Shakespeare the man, the dramatist, and the poet, and analyze each work attributed to his pen.

With so much comprehensive analysis of Shakespeare's life and works, Critical Survey of Shakespeare's Plays is a must-have resource for high school and undergraduate literature departments, as well as public libraries who wish to support their literature collections.

The new edition of Critical Survey of American Literature, previously published as Magill's Survey of American Literature in 2006, offers detailed profiles of major American authors of fiction, drama, and poetry, each with sections on biography, general analysis, and analysis of the author's most important works.

This new edition features over 100 new entries focusing on contemporary American authors at the core of literary studies, including Jeffrey Eugenides, Aldous Huxley, David Foster Wallace, Donna Tartt, Suzanne Collins, Rick Riordan, Veronica Roth, Lois Lowry, E.B. White, Michael Chabon, Jhumpa Lahiri, Nora Ephron, John Krakauer, E.L. James, David Sedaris and many more.

Arranged in an easy-to-use A-Z format, each entry in Critical Survey of American Literature begins with important ready-reference material including Name, Birth & Death Dates and a statement explaining the writer's literary importance.

Entries offer complete coverage of the author's life and significant works, including:

  • Biography - a chronological overview of the author's life.
  • Analysis - a discussion about the author's style, dominant themes, and literary characteristics.
  • Works - profiles one or more individual titles (novels, novellas, plays, poems, short stories, essays).
  • Summary - one or two brief paragraphs summarizing the author's legacy.
  • Bibliography - By the Author lists both the author's work in all genres and About the Author highlights sources for further study.
  • Discussion Topics - address such topics as the writer's body of work, specific works, or life as it relates to his or her literature. Intended for students, teachers and members of reading groups, they can be used as paper topics or conversation points.
Four helpful elements help users navigate through the text, including a Category List that groups authors by genre, country, gender and ethnic identity, a Author and Title Index, plus a Glossary that defines crucial literary terms.

For the first time ever, buyers of the Critical Survey of American Literature get free online access to the content.

The Critical Survey of American Literature combines biography and critical analysis of the most important contemporary and historic figures and works in American Literature. This important resource offers students and researchers with an easy-to-use source to help them embark on research in literary studies.