Top 10 Books About How to Read
How do you grasp the meaning of a work of literature? Study, learn, comprehend, and interpret characters, words, and sentences to decipher themes and structures in literature. Top 10 Literary Theory & Criticism Books
In your studies of literature, it's helpful to have some background in literary theory. These books should provide a starting point... Top 10 Books About American Naturalism
Naturalism is an American literary movement. In general, the concept is one in which everything belongs to nature, is "natural." Naturalist writers include: Theodore Dreiser, Jack London, Stephen Crane, Ellen Glasgow, and Edith Wharton. Top 10 Books Where Great Writers Speak
If you've ever wanted to hear the voices of some of the greatest writers in literary history reading their works, these collections provide you with the opportunity you've been waiting for... Listen to Tolkien read from "The Lord of the Rings," or Joyce read from "Ulysses." Top 10 Books About Charlotte Brontë
Charlotte Brontë was born in 1816, and died in 1855. In the intervening years, she wrote a collection of poems and three novels: "The Professor," "Jane Eyre" (1847), and "Villette" (1852). A fourth novel was left unfinished upon her death. Read more about Charlotte Brontë's life and works. Top 10 Books About Chinese Literature
From poetry to novels, stories, and nonfiction works, these books offer a complete look at Chinese literature through history. It's a rich history filled with names like: Confucius, SunZi, Lao Tze, Xun Zi, and more. Top 10 Books by John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck became known as an important American writer with his epic novel, "The Grapes of Wrath" (1939), for which he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1940. Other early works include "Tortilla Flat" (1935), "In Dubious Battle" (1936), "Of Mice and Men" (1937), and "The Long Valley" (1938). He was also known for a profusion of short stories, nonfiction works, and more. Top 10 Books About John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck was born in Salinas, and it was his work related to California for which he is best known. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1940, and he later received the Nobel Prize in Literature. Perhaps his best known work is "Grapes of Wrath," which depicts the tragedies of an American family during the Great Depression. Read more about John Steinbeck's life and works. Top 10 Books About Animal Literature
Animals have appeared in many of our most favorite classic tales. Jack London, Mark Twain, Rudyard Kipling and others have created unforgettable stories. Top 10 Books About Henrik Ibsen's Plays
Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) was a Norwegian playwright, famous for "A Doll's House," "The Master Builder," "Ghosts," "An Enemy of the People," and "Hedda Gabler." Top 10 Books About Pirate Literature
Pirates have captured our imaginations with their adventures at sea, with bloody battles and buried treasures. Read about pirate literature. Top 10 Books About "Paradise Lost"
John Milton's "Paradise Lost" first appeared in 1667, arranged in 10 books. In 1674, the 2nd edition was in 12 books. This epic poem retells/rethinks the Genesis tale of Adam and Eve. In the end, "the world was all before them, where to choose/ their place of rest, and Providence their guide:/ They hand in hand with wand'ring steps and slow,/ Through Eden took their solitary way." Top 10 Books About "Canterbury Tales"
"The Canterbury Tales," by Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340-1400) is sometimes considered the first collection of short stories in English. The entire collection was probably written between the years 1387 and 1400. Read the full text, along with critical material related to "The Canterbury Tales." Top 10 Books About Freedom and Liberty
Freedom is defined as "the condition of being free from restraints," at liberty from slavery or oppression. Men and women have given their lives in the pursuit of freedom; and revolutionary writers often lead the charge. Read more about their lives and works. Top 10 Jack London Collections
Jack London (1876-1916) once wrote: "I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them." He said, "I will use my time." London had a hard life starting out, and he saw quite a lot of adventure, which came out in many of his works: "Call of the Wild," "The Sea-Wolf," "White Fang," and more. Top 10 Books About Atlantis Mythology
Plato wrote about the lost world of Atlantis as a cautionary tale in 347 B.C. Since then, writers and dreamers have been fascinated by the lost continent, creating myths and legends to explain its diappearance. Top 10 Books About Trickster
Trickster is both a Creator and a Destroyer. He is a symbol of the radical and marginalized, as he proves that survival in the face of devastation is possible. Read books about Trickster as this character appears in mythology and literature from around the world. Top 10 Books About "Beowulf"
Written around the tenth century A.D., "Beowulf" is one of the greatest works of the Medieval era. It describes a Scandinavian warrior of the sixth century. Read more about "Beowulf." Top 10 Books About Victorian Literature
The Victorian Period revolves around the political career of Queen Victoria. She was crowned in 1837 and died in 1901 (which put a definite end to her political career). A great deal of change took place during this period — brought about because of the Industrial Revolution; so it's not surprising that the literature of the period is often concerned with social reform. Top 10 Books About Literary Forgery
Literary classics haven't just been created... they've also been forged. Read about some of the most famous literary forgeries. Top 10 Books About John Donne
(c. 1572-1631) John Donne was a British writer known for poems like "Death Be Not Proud" ("Holy Sonnet 10"), "Break of Day," and other works. He was the founder of the Metaphysical Poets. Read more about Donne's life and works. Top 10 Books About Kate Chopin
(1851-1904) After the publication of Kate Chopin's scandalous novel, "The Awakening," the literary world ignored her stories for the next 70 years. Read about her life and works. Top 4 American Novels: 1900-1909
Browse through books from the first decade of the 20th century. Works include: "Sister Carrie," "The Jungle," "House of Mirth," and many more. Here are ten... Top 10 Books About Protest Literature
Protest Literature has existed in different forms throughout literary history. Some of the greatest writers in history have employed their talents toward awakening the public to injustices locally and world-wide. Top 10 Books About Huck Finn
Originally published in 1884, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is the journey of a young boy down the Mississippi River. Huck encounters thieves, murders, and various adventures. The book has also encountered censorship... | 