In-depth critical discussions on a variety of literary of works engaging with history and that pair well with historical readings - Plus complimentary, unlimited online access to the full content of this great literary reference. This volume encourages readers to engage with plots based on historical events and characters in several ways. They may re-imagine history in cases where it is reconstructed; become better acquainted with history as it is personalized through specific characters; and, perhaps most importantly, even question historical fact. This volume considers fiction drawn...

In-depth critical discussions of Nathaniel Hawthorne's famous novel - Plus complimentary, unlimited online access to the full content of this great literary reference. This volume examines how The Scarlet Letter brings together many vital strands in American literature and culture. Puritanism and the rise of religious liberalism; philosophical Romanticism and Transcendentalism; the role of women and gender; the nature of justice and democratic governance; and the relationship between the United States and the wider world.

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings quickly became one of the most popular and influential novels of the twentieth century. It inspired not just one film but a series of well-received movies that brought Tolkien's highly imaginative fantasy epic to life on the big screen. This volume about the novel discusses the work from numerous points of view, employing biographical, historical, cultural, mythic, and aesthetic approaches, among others.

Biology is the natural science that studies life and living organisms. A career in biology can mean the study of evolution, the study of health and disease, the study of the preservation of the natural environment, the study of pollen, or the study of animal behavior, to name a few. Biologists can work in a classroom, in a laboratory, on a farm, or under the ocean, so someone who is interested in a career in this field has many options to choose from.

Microbiology is the study of the invisible world of microorganisms, organisms so small that microscopes and other special equipment are needed to directly observe them. They play a crucial role in maintaining the Earth's atmosphere and help decompose organic matter. Microbiology plays a role in a great variety of areas, including optimizing soil for agriculture, developing preservatives and pharmaceuticals, genetic engineering, and developing climate change models. The discovery of microbes was instrumental in controlling infectious disease outbreaks that had, for centuries, wiped out entire...

Each year, Magill's Literary Annual critically evaluates 200 major examples of serious literature published during the previous calendar year. the philosophy behind our selection process is to cover works that are likely to be of interest to general readers, that are written by authors being taught in literature programs, and that will stand the test of time. By filtering the thousands of books published every year down to 200 notable titles, the editors have provided the busy librarian with an excellent reader's advisory tool and patrons with fodder for book discussion groups and a guide for...