The Companion to the Victorian Novel provides contextual and critical information about the entire range of British fiction published between 1837 and 1901.

• Provides contextual and critical information about the entire range of British fiction published during the Victorian period.


• Explains issues such as Victorian religions, class structure, and Darwinism to those who are unfamiliar with them.


• Comprises original, accessible chapters written by renowned and emerging scholars in the field of Victorian studies.
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A Companion to the American Short Story traces the development of this versatile literary genre over the past 200 years.

• Sets the short story in context, paying attention to the interaction of cultural forces and aesthetic principles
• Contributes to the ongoing redefinition of the American canon, with close attention to the achievements of women writers as well as such important genres as the ghost story and detective fiction
• Embraces diverse traditions including African-American, Jewish-American, Latino, Native-American, and regional short story writing
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A Companion to Medieval Poetry presents a series of original essays from leading literary scholars that explore English poetry from the Anglo-Saxon period up to the 15^th century.

• Organised into three parts to echo the chronological and stylistic divisions between the Anglo-Saxon, Middle English and Post-Chaucerian periods, each section is introduced with contextual essays, providing a valuable introduction to the society and culture of the time
• Combines a general discussion of genres of medieval poetry, with specific consideration of texts and...

A Companion to Crime Fiction presents the definitive guide to this popular genre from its origins in the eighteenth century to the present day

• A collection of forty-seven newly commissioned essays from a team of leading scholars across the globe make this Companion the definitive guide to crime fiction
• Follows the development of the genre from its origins in the eighteenth century through to its phenomenal present day popularity
• Features full-length critical essays on the most significant authors and film-makers, from Arthur Conan Doyle and...

A Companion to the Literature and Culture of the American West presents a series of essays that explore the historic and contemporary cultural expressions rooted in America's western states.

• Offers a comprehensive approach to the wide range of cultural expressions originating in the west
• Focuses on the intersections, complexities, and challenges found within and between the different historical and cultural groups that define the west's various distinctive regions
• Addresses traditionally familiar icons and ideas about the west (such as cowboys, wide-open...

This is a comprehensive collection of original essays that explore the aesthetics, economics, and mechanics of movie adaptation, from the days of silent cinema to contemporary franchise phenomena. Featuring a range of theoretical approaches, and chapters on the historical, ideological and economic aspects of adaptation, the volume reflects today's acceptance of intertextuality as a vital and progressive cultural force.

• Incorporates new research in adaptation studies
• Features a chapter on the Harry Potter franchise, as well as other contemporary perspectives
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Featuring 37 essays by distinguished literary scholars, A Companion to the American Novel provides a comprehensive single-volume treatment of the development of the novel in the United States from the late 18th century to the present day.

• Represents the most comprehensive single-volume introduction to this popular literary form currently available
• Features 37 contributions from a wide range of distinguished literary scholars
• Includes essays on topics and genres, historical overviews, and key individual works, including The Scarlet Letter, Moby Dick, The...

"This book gathers together three dozen original essays, all by noted scholars in their fields, and designed to introduce the general reader to the latest ideas about the literary and cultural theory of the last half century, focusing on the ideas that are still alive today"--