One of the bestselling novels of all time, The Great Gatsby is also considered one of the most significant achievements in twentieth-century fiction. In Gatsby: The Cultural History of the Great American Novel, Bob Batchelor explores the birth, life, and enduring influence of The Great Gatsby
American Science Fiction and the Roots of Postmodernism, 1946-1964
Focusing on the golden age of American science fiction in the 1950s, this book explores key novels and films from 1946 to 1964, a time marked by Cold War tensions. It highlights how these works reflect societal anxieties, particularly through themes of alien invasion and nuclear holocaust, paralleling the insights of contemporary social and cultural critics. The analysis reveals the profound impact of the era's geopolitical climate on the genre, showcasing the interplay between fiction and the fears of the time.
This text introduces the Caribbean anglophone novel to students. schovat popis
The book offers a comprehensive exploration of Science Fiction literature, featuring a detailed chronology and an introductory essay that contextualizes the genre's evolution. With over 300 cross-referenced entries, it serves as an extensive reference guide, highlighting key authors, works, themes, and significant developments within the genre. An extensive bibliography further enriches the reader's understanding and provides resources for further study, making it an essential tool for enthusiasts and scholars alike.
Exploring over 50 years of science fiction cinema, this book delves into its significance as a major American film genre. It highlights how these films have mirrored crucial themes and societal concerns, offering insights into the cultural evolution of America. By examining the intersection of science fiction and societal developments, the narrative provides a comprehensive understanding of both the genre and the historical context it has emerged from.
Exploring the evolution of American national myths, this book examines how narratives of adventure, individual heroism, and cultural icons reflect societal values and aspirations. It highlights figures like Christ, Shane, and Superman, who embody savior qualities, often appealing to youth. Additionally, it considers more relatable heroes, such as hardboiled detectives, who confront evil in everyday contexts. By analyzing these fantasies, the work seeks to uncover insights into contemporary American identity and the aspirations that shape it.
What's New in Film and Why It Makes Us Feel So Strange
Exploring the influence of postmodernism on American culture, this volume delves into its significant presence in cinema. It examines how films like Pulp Fiction, Mulholland Drive, and Marie Antoinette embody themes of fragmentation, musical integration, and pastiche. The book is divided into four sections that provide an accessible overview of postmodernist elements in film, highlighting its impact on everyday life and media, making it a vital resource for understanding this cultural phenomenon.
“A true classic of world literature . . . A masterpiece that has inspired generations of writers in Nigeria, across Africa, and around the world.” —Barack Obama “African literature is incomplete and unthinkable without the works of Chinua Achebe.” —Toni Morrison Nominated as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS’s The Great American Read Things Fall Apart is the first of three novels in Chinua Achebe's critically acclaimed African Trilogy. It is a classic narrative about Africa's cataclysmic encounter with Europe as it establishes a colonial presence on the continent. Told through the fictional experiences of Okonkwo, a wealthy and fearless Igbo warrior of Umuofia in the late 1800s, Things Fall Apart explores one man's futile resistance to the devaluing of his Igbo traditions by British political andreligious forces and his despair as his community capitulates to the powerful new order. With more than 20 million copies sold and translated into fifty-seven languages, Things Fall Apart provides one of the most illuminating and permanent monuments to African experience. Achebe does not only capture life in a pre-colonial African village, he conveys the tragedy of the loss of that world while broadening our understanding of our contemporary realities.
"Since its publication in 1914, Dubliners has been arguably the most famous collection of short stories written in English. Through what James Joyce described as their "style of scrupulous meanness," the stories collectively present a direct, sometimes searing view of the city of Dublin in the twentieth century. This Norton Critical Edition is based on Hans Walter Gabler's scholarly edition and includes Gabler's edited text, his textual notes, and a newly revised version of his introduction, which details and discusses the complicated publication history of Dubliners. Explanatory annotations are provided by the volume editor, Margot Norris." ""Contexts" is a rich collection of materials intended to bring Dubliners to life for twenty-first-century readers. The Irish capital of a century ago is captured through photographs, maps, songs, newspaper items, and advertising. Early versions of two of the stories and Joyce's satirical poem about his publication woes provide additional background." ""Criticism" includes eight interpretive essays that illuminate some of the stories most frequently taught and discussed -"Araby," "Eveline," "After the Race," "The Boarding House," "Counterparts," "A Painful Case," and "The Dead." The contributors are David G. Wright, Heyward Ehrlich, Margot Norris, James Fairhall, Fritz Senn, Morris Beja, Roberta Jackson, and Vincent J. Cheng. A Selected Bibliography is also included."--BOOK JACKET.
This first true biography of Stan Lee is an eye-opening look at a pop culture visionary. This book traces Lee's life--from his Depression-era childhood to his years as a teen editor and ultimately to his triumphs as the genius behind some of the most beloved characters in pop culture history, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, and Thor.
