The Siege
- 320 pages
- 12 hours of reading
Nine hostages. Ten hours. One chance to save them all.
John Sutherland is a distinguished English professor and literary critic with a deep expertise in Victorian and modern literature. His distinctive approach involves meticulously dissecting classic texts, uncovering subtle inconsistencies and overlooked references. Sutherland's work illuminates the intricate craft of writing, making complex literary works accessible and engaging for contemporary readers. He offers readers a unique lens through which to appreciate the nuances of literary history and authorial intent.






Nine hostages. Ten hours. One chance to save them all.
Huxley checks the progress of his prophecies in his seminar novel Brave New World thirty years after it was first published, covering issues such as overpopulation, propaganda, the art of selling and brainwashing, drugs and political control.
A thought-provoking look at the biggest challenges facing society through the unique lens of an experienced police officer and hostage negotiator
Ranging all the way from Aaron's Rod to Zuleika Dobson, via The Devil Rides Out and Middlemarch, literary connoisseur and sleuth John Sutherland offers his very personal guide to the most rewarding, most remarkable and, on occasion, most shamelessly enjoyable works of fiction ever written
The story of Philip Larkin's long-term partner Monica Jones based on her never-before-seen letters to the poet.
The beautiful but manipulative Lizzie Greystock, having entrapped Sir Florian Eustace in marriage, finds herself widowed and wealthy. Unperturbed by her loss, she is determined to keep the Eustace heirlooms, despite the legal opposition. These cassettes contain the complete and unabridged story.
Arranged in chronological order, the novelist's lives are opinionated, informative, frequently funny and often shocking. Professor Sutherland's authors come from all over the world; their writings illustrate every kind of fiction from gothic, penny dreadfuls and pornography to fantasy, romance and high literature. The book shows the changing forms of the genre, and how the aspirations of authors to divert and sometimes to educate their readers, has in some respects radically changed over the centuries, and in others - such as their interest in sex and relationships - remained remarkably constant.
"The Moonstone is the first English detective novel.... It tells of an ancient Indian diamond which brings disaster to everyone who owns it. Rachel Verinder's uncle gives her the diamond as a birthday present, but that same night it is stolen."--P. [4] of cover.
A Literary Quizbook
How well do you really know your favorite author? In this new book, ace literary detective turned quizmaster John Sutherland and Austen buff Deirdre Le Faye challenge you to find out. Starting with easy, factual questions that test how well you remember a novel and its characters, the quizprogresses to a level of greater difficulty, demanding close reading and interpretative deduction. What really motivates the characters, and what is going on beneath the surface of the story? Designed to amuse and divert, the questions and answers take the reader on an imaginative journey into theworld of Jane Austen, where hypothesis and speculation produce fascinating and unexpected insights. The questions are ingenious and fun, and the answers (located in the back of the book), in Sutherland's inimitable style, are fascinating. Completing the book guarantees a hugely improved knowledgeand appreciation of Austen. Whether you are an expert or enthusiast, So You Think You Know Jane Austen? guarantees you will know her much better after reading it.
From The Epic of Gilgamesh to Harry Potter, this rollicking romp through the world of literature reveals how writings from all over the world can transport us and help us to make sense of what it means to be human