Explores Oscar Wilde's influence on fin de si cle and twentieth-century culture and style.

This innovative book examines the careers of three performers whose professional lives together spanned the period from the late eighteenth to the late nineteenth centuries, from the heyday of neoclassicism to the coming of realism. While the individual essays concentrate on the specific work of each actress, a wide-ranging introduction relates their collective achievement to social and cultural change. Vivid reconstructions of their interpretations and unique accounts of theatrical conditions place the art of three very different but pivotal figures in context.

This Companion brings together sixteen new essays which examine, from various perspectives, the social and cultural role of the actress throughout history and across continents. Each essay focuses on a particular stage in her development, for example professionalism in the seventeenth century; the emergence of the actress/critic during the Romantic period and, later on, of the actress as best selling autobiographer; the coming of the drama schools which led to today's emphasis on the actress as a highly-trained working woman. Chapters consider the image of the actress as a courtesan, as a...

This quick graphic adaptation of "Great Expectations" encourages readers to enjoy classical literature while remaining faithful to Charles Dickens' original work. Readers follow the wonderful tale of Pip, Miss Havisham, and the spiteful Estella at their own pace. Alternative text versions are offered for different reading levels and teacher resources are available with lesson plans and activities for students from grade 6 and up. The striking color artwork captures the ambiance of Victorian life and makes the story more accessible than ever.