Literature: A Pocket Anthology (Penguin Academics) [Paperback]

R. S. Gwynn (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0321366298 | ISBN-13: 978-0321366290 | Publication Date: June 9, 2006 | Edition: 3rd

A refreshing alternative to voluminous literature anthologies, this compact, inexpensive, and diverse collection of fiction, poetry, and drama provides a concise yet complete introduction to the study of literature. Organized chronologically within each genre, the wide range of selections features both classic and contemporary authors, presenting a diversity of forms and voices.  Individual Fiction, Poetry, and Drama introductions provide an overview for reading and analyzing each genre, defining key terms in context.  Biographical headnotes highlight common themes and ideas in the author’s body of work.   Individuals who want a brief overview of the 3 literary genres.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The ideal alternative to longer anthologies, this brief, affordable, and diverse collection of fiction, poetry, and drama  provides a concise yet comprehensive introduction to the study of literature. 

Why do you need this new edition?

• New short stories include selections by authors not represented in earlier editions of this anthology, including Hisaye Yamamoto, Tim O’Brien, and Sherman Alexie, as well as new offerings from previously anthologized authors.
• A wide range of new poems includes works by poets like Joseph Harrison, Allison Joseph, Sophie Hannah, and Emily Moore, as well as Iraq veteran Brian Turner–a 21^st century soldier-poet.
• New dramas by Milcha Sanchez-Scott and Arlene Hutton reflect current American concerns (immigration, feminism), and new selections by previously anthologized dramatists offer echoes of today’s politics (Sophocles’ Antigone), an adaptation by Arthur Miller (Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People), and a classic from one of America’s most admired playwrights, August Wilson (The Piano Lesson).

 

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1408 pages
• Publisher: Longman; 3rd edition (June 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321366298
• ISBN-13: 978-0321366290
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All the Literature you'll ever need!, September 30, 2007

By 

Patricia Barnard "book luvah" (Podunk, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Literature: A Pocket Anthology (Penguin Academics) (Paperback)

This arguably pocket-sized book has an insane amount of literature rolled into one neat little package. This 1000+ page collection has a good mix of short stories, poetry and drama from the best writers of our time, ranging from William Shakespeare to Ernest Hemingway to Alice Munroe, and STILL fits in most of my purses. If you are an English major, minor or just love literature, this is the perfect edition. The only reason it didn't get 4 stars is because the short stories could have diversified a bit from the usual suspects. I have four different collections and all of them have the same 16 or so stories.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Marvelous Literary Collection., October 15, 2010

By 

Dauphin1077 (Central California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Literature: A Pocket Anthology (4th Edition) (Paperback)

I chose this book to use in my college Introduction to Literature class for the variety of short fiction, poetry, and plays within its covers. Students like what the book has to offer and find the readings surprisingly enjoyable. The related apparatus for the three main sections is particularly helpful; there is enough information to help readers understand what is significant about different literary genres without it becoming tedious. This is truly a nice literary anthology, and I will continue to use it to introduce students to the pleasure of reading.

3.0 out of 5 stars Intro to Lit class, January 17, 2012

By 

Freddy Frick (Iowa) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Literature: A Pocket Anthology (Penguin Academics) (Paperback)

The book had some good stories. I used the book in a class called Intro to Lit and we didn't even have the time to get through like half of the material