English & Reading Resources
Fall 2018
A Little Book on Form
by Robert Hass
A former U.S. Poet Laureate, Pulitzer Prize winner, and National Book Award winner provides an illuminating dissection and exploration of the roots of poetic form - from the simple haiku to the complex elegy.
There’s a Mystery There
by Jonathan Cott
An exceptional, in-depth look on the formative life experiences, fantasies, and obsessions that lead to the creative inspiration of the great children’s book genius Maurice Sendak.
In Search of Mary Shelley
by Fiona Sampson
This literary biography explores the life of the anguished and psychologically astute Mary Shelley and what led her to write the famously dark Frankenstein.
Mark Twain and Philosophy
by Alan H. Goldman
Goldman delves deeply into Twain’s work and its continued relevance to fundamental social issues like slavery, science, and religion showing how Twain touches every corner of human experience.
Mr. Lear: A Life of Art and Nonsense
by Jenny Uglow
A richly detailed and beautifully illustrated biography about a uniquely gifted artist, musician, and author whose humor masked epilepsy, depression, and loneliness.
From Holmes to Sherlock
by Mattias Boström
A behind the scenes look at the famous sleuth and those who have transformed Sherlock Holmes from the respectable amateur of the Victorian era to the peculiar genius of today.
The Making of Jane Austen
by Devoney Looser
Looser examines Austen’s cultural legacy in the many stage and film adaptations of her work. In addition, she connects Austen’s work with literary and cultural power in the present.
Dickinson’s Nerves, Frost’s Woods
by William Logan
Logan gives guidance to those who want to understand some of literature’s most famous poems, from Shakespeare to Heaney. He provides the historical, social, and cultural contexts in which the poems were written.
The Making of the Oxford English Dictionary
by Peter Gilliver
This book breaks down the history of the OED from its conception to the present time, examining the cultural and historical background, as well as the individuals who have contributed to the project.
