Author Description

<I>Literature and Culture Handbooks</I> are an innovative series of guides to major periods, topics and authors in British and American literature and culture. Designed to provide a comprehensive, one-stop resource for literature students, each handbook provides the essential information and guidance needed from the beginning of a course through to developing more advanced knowledge and skills. Written in clear language by leading academics, they provide an indispensable introduction to key topics, including: <br/>• Introduction to authors, texts, historical and cultural contexts <br/><br/><br/>• Guides to key critics, concepts and topics <br/><br/><br/>• An overview of major critical approaches, changes in the canon and directions of current and future research <br/><br/><br/>• Case studies in reading literary and critical texts <br/><br/><br/>• Annotated bibliography (including websites), timeline, glossary of critical terms.<br/><br/><br/><I>The Shakespeare Handbook</I> is an accessible and comprehensive introduction to Shakespeare and early modern literature.