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A Handbook to Literature (Paperback)

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4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The definitive, contemporary reference on literature and literary criticism in English, this handbook provides an alphabetical listing of more than 2,000 important terms and facts in literature, linguistics, rhetoric, criticism, printing, bookselling, and information technology. Covers a wide range of terms, most centered in literature, but extending into other areas, such as film, radio, TV, printing, linguistics and literary theory, music, graphic arts, classical studies, and computing and information science terms. For anyone interested in literature and literary criticism.

From the Publisher

This comprehensive text is the definitive reference text on literature and literary criticism in English. The text itself is an alphabetical listing of the terms that pertain to literature in English. Now in its seventh edition, it has been used by more than one million students. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

Paperback: 663 pages
Publisher: Prentice Hall; 9th edition (July 10, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0130979988
ISBN-13: 978-0130979988
Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds

Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #722,151 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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More About the Authors

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C. Hugh Holman

William Harmon

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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A page-turner encyclopedia? You better believe it!, August 21, 2002

By	R. Tiedemann "Sunnye" (Bellevue, NE USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Handbook to Literature (8th Edition) (Paperback)

If you have a question about English or American literature, chances are you'll find the answer here. William Harmon, professor of English at the University of North Carolina has revised and updated this handbook, long popular in academia. He's added more than 100 entries which reflect current trends in literature and criticism.

If you don't have a student at home, get this book anyway. Read it. Just the outline of English and American literary history in the back of the book is worth the price. You undoubtedly will find books here you never knew existed. I thought I'd read all of Eudora Welty, for instance, but I found a "new" title listed here -- new to me, at least. I also discovered a James Gould Cozzens book I'd never heard of.

The handbook is actually an encyclopedia of words and phrases pertaining to the study of literature. Listings are defined, explained and often illustrated. There are cross references. Appendices include complete lists of Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize winners for fiction, poetry and drama. The index of proper names in the back lists over 2,300 authors and prominent literary figures.

This book is a must for the home library. Also, it's entertaining as well as informative reading. You may well find yourself curled up with it, unwilling to tear yourself away.

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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential for Most Liberal Arts Students, December 14, 2000

By	Renee Thorpe (Karangasem, Bali) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Handbook to Literature (Hardcover)

With the possible exception of my Roget's Thesaurus, this was the most useful reference in my pursuit of a BA in English Lit and Art History. This was recommended by one of my professors and it served me very well.

Easy-to-use alphabetical format allows reader to look up terms essential to the analysis of literature, and is highly useful to students of other humanities. The definitions are easy to digest but are quite thorough and supply sufficient context. Take this to college and use it often. An excellent tool for your research and writing.

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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Handy, Handy, Handy!, May 30, 2001

By	"engltchr" (Remerton, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Handbook to Literature (Hardcover)

I love this book because it has complete, concise definitions of every literary facet you can think of. I have used it as a study tool for my certification tests, as a quick look up tool before tests, and as a way to explain difficult literary terminology to my students. I cannot stress how badly English teachers (and anyone else who loves literature) needs this book!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Hang on to this one
This appears to be a good book for English majors to hang on to for future reference.

Published 1 month ago by Catharine C. Cuba

5.0 out of 5 stars Really fast delivery!
My on-line class had already started and the books had not arrived. The campus bookstore couldn't give me any clue as to when their 'back-order' problem might be resolved. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Bobby Young

3.0 out of 5 stars A Handbook to Literature
It appears to be a good book. I have not actually used it much, yet. It has tons of information in it that I will eventually need.

Thanks

Published 19 months ago by Gidget

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine and useful book
I used to stay with an old gal who was a student of the original author of this book. That old gal was wrong about a lot of things,IMO, but she was on the mark in her celebration... Read more

Published 20 months ago by Myrna Minkoff

5.0 out of 5 stars Indespensible
After several feverish hours of searching for literary definitions that I could not find anywhere on the internet, I remembered this book which I had bought for my first college... Read more

Published 23 months ago by Katie

5.0 out of 5 stars Revision of Holman's classic Handbook
The original compiler/editor, Hugh Holman, had created a classic--probably the best handbook to literature (almost exclusively English and American) available. Read more

Published on February 24, 2006 by Gordon C. Appleton

5.0 out of 5 stars A Handbook to Literature (10th edition)
Easily one of the best handbooks on the market, and an indispensable reference for English teachers of literature and researchers at all levels. Read more

Published on February 20, 2006 by A. W. Bowker

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for School
This text was required, and it was cheaper at Amazon than the local university book stores. The book is actually great. I wish I had it when I first started school. Read more

Published on January 23, 2006 by D. Butler

3.0 out of 5 stars Moderately like
The book has its benefits as well as its drawbacks. But is extremely helpful when a certain topic must be further analyzed but you must be familiar with the topic beforehand.

Published on September 26, 2005 by Rachel Y. Coston

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for people who love literary devices
Very informative and expansive. It's handy and interesting because it goes past basic definitions to include historical background, etc.

Published on December 23, 2003 by Alane Fuller

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