Literature in Context Series

Accessible essays place Kafka in historical, political and cultural context, providing new and often unexpected perspectives on his works.

Henry David Thoreau in Context provides original research on Thoreau's influences, the topics he explored, the intellectual currents he was inspired by, and how he has been received since his death, making it a valuable resource to students, teachers, scholars, and general readers. číst celé

Brings together for the first time in one volume today's leading scholars of this major theatre tradition. The book provides a state-of-the-art survey of current thinking on the commedia and discusses both the early modern period and the reinvention of the commedia dell'arte in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Written by the leading experts in the field, the essays in this volume will appeal to scholars, students and interested readers alike. Encompassing biographical, historical, cultural and literary-critical approaches, this book offers a fresh, lively and accessible presentation of a great many of the facets of Proust's life and work.

This interdisciplinary collection of essays by leading international scholars provides a comprehensive account of the context of Dante's life and work. It will not only answer questions, but also inspire new research into the connections between material culture, intellectual traditions, and literary and artistic expression.

Concise and illuminating articles explore the context within which Wilde's life and art took shape, proposing not one but many Oscar Wildes. Contributors discuss the ongoing influence and reception of Wilde and his work, from performance history to film and operatic adaptations, providing an enriched understanding of this complex individualist.

When George Bernard Shaw died in 1950, the world lost one of its most well-known authors, a revolutionary who was as renowned for his personality as he was for his humour, humanity, and rebellious thinking. He remains a compelling figure who deserves attention not only for how influential he was in his time, but for how relevant he is to ours. This collection sets Shaw's life and achievements in context, with forty-two scholarly essays devoted to subjects that interested him and defined his work. Contributors explore a wide range of themes, moving from factors that were formative in Shaw's life, to the artistic work that made him most famous and the institutions with which he worked, to the political and social issues that consumed much of his attention, and, finally, to his influence and reception. Presenting fresh material and arguments, this collection will point to new directions of research for future scholars.