Impressive, enlightening, and fascinating to read, this easy-to-use narrative chronology records the triumphs, obstacles, and conditions of women's lives from prehistory to the present and profiles the achievements of nearly 5,000 women from practically every corner of the globe. Western history is thoroughly covered and supplemented by information on Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Africa. From Cro-Magnon childbirth and ancient Egyptian cosmetics to Janet Reno and the Tailhook scandal, the breadth, diversity, and accessibility of this work make it invaluable for identifying the...

A seemingly simple tale of schoolboys marooned on an island, Lord of the Flies has proven to be one of the most enigmatic and provocative pieces of literature ever published. This casebook probes the many layers of meaning in the novel, examining its literary, philosophical, historical, scientific, and religious significance. Beginning with a literary analysis that explores the universality of the novel's characters, the story is considered as subversion of the adventure tale, comparing it to such classics as Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe. From these literary...

One of the greatest writers of all time, Jane Austen drew upon her domestic culture to color her works. Included in this book are more than 200 recipes for the many, many meals she alludes to throughout her writings. Recipes appear in modernized form, along with quotations from Austen's writings and excerpts from cookbooks of her era. Sure to entertain her numerous fans, the volume provides readers with recipes for such dishes as fried beef steaks, broiled mutton chops, roast pork loin, buttered crab or lobster, Stilton cheese, syrup of mulberries, almond pudding, French bread, mushroom...

Willoughby ("Sense and Sensibility") drives a curricle not a gig - what does this say about him? Captain Wentworth ("Persuasion") and Fanny's brother William ("Mansfield Park") follow the 'King's Service' at sea - what sort of life did they find there? Lady Catherine de Bourgh ("Pride and Prejudice") is called Lady Catherine, not Lady de Bourgh - what does this very important distinction signify? Abridged from the critically acclaimed "All Things Austen" (Greenwood, 2005), this similarly formatted encyclopedia takes readers from the works of Jane Austen into her universe. More than 70...

When did Western life begin to strongly resemble our modern world? Despite the tremendous evolution of society and technology in the last 50 years, surprisingly, many aspects of life in the 21st century in the United States directly date back to the 18th century across the Atlantic. Daily Life in Eighteenth-Century England covers specific topics that affect nearly everyone living in England in the 18th century: the government (including law and order); race, class, and gender; work and wages; religion; the family; housing; clothing; and food. It also describes aspects of life that...