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books tagged “British lit”
books tagged “British lit”
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Alfred, Lord Tennyson : Selected Poemsby Alfred Lord TennysonISBN 0753816571 (0-7538-1657-1)
Hardcover, Orion Publishing Group, Limited
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Alfred, Lord Tennyson : Selected Poems'Book summary:On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the word and meet the sky;
And thro' the field the road runs by
To many-tower'd Camelot.
--From The Lady of Shalott[via]
Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poems found inspiration in sources as diverse as Greek myths (Tithonius), Arthurian legends (Idylls of the King), Shakespeare (Mariana), and contemporary history (Charge of the Light Brigade). But his most famous and heartfelt work, In Memoriam, came from personal tragedy: the death of his close friend, Arthur Hallam. All these, and many other of his finest poems, are included in this superb collection.More editions of Alfred, Lord Tennyson : Selected Poems:
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The Amber Spyglassby Philip PullmanISBN 0786241225 (0-7862-4122-5)
Hardcover, Thorndike Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'The Amber Spyglass'Book summary:From the very start of its very first scene, The Amber Spyglass will set hearts fluttering and minds racing. All we'll say here is that we immediately discover who captured Lyra at the end of The Subtle Knife, though we've yet to discern whether this individual's intent is good, evil, or somewhere in between. We also learn that Will still possesses the blade that allows him to cut between worlds, and has been joined by two winged companions who are determined to escort him to Lord Asriel's mountain redoubt. The boy, however, has only one goal in mind--to rescue his friend and return to her the alethiometer, an instrument that has revealed so much to her and to readers of The Golden Compass and its follow-up. Within a short time, too, we get to experience the "tingle of the starlight" on Serafina Pekkala's skin as she seeks out a famished Iorek Byrnison and enlists him in Lord Asriel's crusade:
A complex web of thoughts was weaving itself in the bear king's mind, with more strands in it than hunger and satisfaction. There was the memory of the little girl Lyra, whom he had named Silvertongue, and whom he had last seen crossing the fragile snow bridge across a crevasse in his own island of Svalbard. Then there was the agitation among the witches, the rumors of pacts and alliances and war; and then there was the surpassingly strange fact of this new world itself, and the witch's insistence that there were many more such worlds, and that the fate of them all hung somehow on the fate of the child.
Meanwhile, two factions of the Church are vying to reach Lyra first. One is even prepared to give a priest "preemptive absolution" should he succeed in committing mortal sin. For these tyrants, killing this girl is no less than "a sacred task."In the final installment of his trilogy, Philip Pullman has set himself the highest hurdles. He must match its predecessors in terms of sheer action and originality and resolve the enigmas he already created. The good news is that there is no critical bad news--not that The Amber Spyglass doesn't contain standoffs and close calls galore. (Who would have it otherwise?) But Pullman brings his audacious revision of Paradise Lost to a conclusion that is both serene and devastating. In prose that is transparent yet lyrical and 3-D, the author weaves in and out of his principals' thoughts. He also offers up several additional worlds. In one, Dr. Mary Malone is welcomed into an apparently simple society. The environment of the mulefa (again, we'll reveal nothing more) makes them rich in consciousness while their lives possess a slow and stately rhythm. These strange creatures can, however, be very fast on their feet (or on other things entirely) when necessary. Alas, they are on the verge of dying as Dust streams out of their idyllic landscape. Will the Oxford dark-matter researcher see her way to saving them, or does this require our young heroes? And while Mary is puzzling out a cure, Will and Lyra undertake a pilgrimage to a realm devoid of all light and hope, after having been forced into the cruelest of sacrifices--or betrayals.
Throughout his galvanizing epic, Pullman sustains scenes of fierce beauty and tenderness. He also allows us a moment or two of comic respite. At one point, for instance, Lyra's mother bullies a series of ecclesiastical underlings: "The man bowed helplessly and led her away. The guard behind her blew out his cheeks with relief." Needless to say, Mrs. Coulter is as intoxicating and fluid as ever. And can it be that we will come to admire her as she plays out her desperate endgame? In this respect, as in many others, The Amber Spyglass is truly a book of revelations, moving from darkness visible to radiant truth. --Kerry Fried [via]
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Amsterdamby Ian McEwanISBN 0786217960 (0-7862-1796-0)
Hardcover, Thorndike Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Amsterdam'Book summary:When good-time, fortysomething Molly Lane dies of an unspecified degenerative illness, her many friends and numerous lovers are led to think about their own mortality. Vernon Halliday, editor of the upmarket newspaper the Judge, persuades his old friend Clive Linley, a self-indulgent composer of some reputation, to enter into a euthanasia pact with him. Should either of them be stricken with such an illness, the other will bring about his death. From this point onward we are in little doubt as to Amsterdam's outcome--it's only a matter of who will kill whom. In the meantime, compromising photographs of Molly's most distinguished lover, foreign secretary Julian Garmony, have found their way into the hands of the press, and as rumors circulate he teeters on the edge of disgrace. However, this is McEwan, so it is no surprise to find that the rather unsavory Garmony comes out on top. Ian McEwan is master of the writer's craft, and while this is the sort of novel that wins prizes, his characters remain curiously soulless amidst the twists and turns of plot. --Lisa Jardine [via]
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Atonement: A Novelby Ian McEwanISBN 0786239212 (0-7862-3921-2)
Hardcover, Thorndike Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Atonement: A Novel'Book summary:Ian McEwan's Booker Prize-nominated Atonement is his first novel since Amsterdam took home the prize in 1998. But while Amsterdam was a slim, sleek piece, Atonement is a more sturdy, more ambitious work, allowing McEwan more room to play, think, and experiment.
We meet 13-year-old Briony Tallis in the summer of 1935, as she attempts to stage a production of her new drama "The Trials of Arabella" to welcome home her older, idolized brother Leon. But she soon discovers that her cousins, the glamorous Lola and the twin boys Jackson and Pierrot, aren't up to the task, and directorial ambitions are abandoned as more interesting prospects of preoccupation come onto the scene. The charlady's son, Robbie Turner, appears to be forcing Briony's sister Cecilia to strip in the fountain and sends her obscene letters; Leon has brought home a dim chocolate magnate keen for a war to promote his new "Army Ammo" chocolate bar; and upstairs, Briony's migraine-stricken mother Emily keeps tabs on the house from her bed. Soon, secrets emerge that change the lives of everyone present....
The interwar, upper-middle-class setting of the book's long, masterfully sustained opening section might recall Virginia Woolf or Henry Green, but as we move forward--eventually to the turn of the 21st century--the novel's central concerns emerge, and McEwan's voice becomes clear, even personal. For at heart, Atonement is about the pleasures, pains, and dangers of writing, and perhaps even more, about the challenge of controlling what readers make of your writing. McEwan shouldn't have any doubts about readers of Atonement: this is a thoughtful, provocative, and at times moving book that will have readers applauding. --Alan Stewart, Amazon.co.uk [via]
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Beowulfby Gareth HindsISBN 0763630233 (0-7636-3023-3)
Softcover, Candlewick Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Beowulf'Book summary:This exhilarating graphic-novel edition of an ancient classic honors the spirit of the original as it attracts modern readers.
The epic tale of the great warrior Beowulf has thrilled readers through the ages and now it is reinvented for a new generation with Gareth Hindss masterful illustrations. Grendels black blood runs thick as Beowulf defeats the monster and his hideous mother, while somber hues overcast the heros final, fatal battle against a raging dragon. Speeches filled with courage and sadness, lightning-paced contests of muscle and will, and funeral boats burning on the fjords are all rendered in glorious and gruesome detail. Told for more than a thousand years, Beowulfs heroic saga finds a true home in this graphic-novel edition. [via]More editions of Beowulf:
Beowulfby Harold BloomISBN 0791040828 (0-7910-4082-8)
Softcover, Facts on File
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Beowulfby Magnus Magnusson, Julian Glover, Sheila MacKieISBN 0750911042 (0-7509-1104-2)
Softcover, Sutton Pub Ltd
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Beowulf'Book summary:The poem 'Beowulf' is one of the glories of European Literature. It was composed in Anglo-Saxon verse early in the eighth century and has come down to just one surviving manuscript. This is the text that Julian Glover has taken for this book. [via]
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Beowulfby Michael SwantonISBN 0719051460 (0-7190-5146-0)
Softcover, Manchester Univ Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Beowulf'Book summary:Beowulf is to English what the Odyssey and Iliad are to Greek literature ? the oldest example of vernacular literature of any substance not only in England but in the whole of western Europe. Since its rediscovery and the appearance of the first printed editions in the middle of the last century, this moving and dramatic epic has attracted considerable scholarly attention, and Dr Swanton is able to draw on this wealth of scholarship to present a considered and balanced introduction to the poem. Explanatory notes, drawing on archaeological sources, expand the poets more esoteric allusions and offer background information on contemporary manners and customs. A prose translation faces the text, which should be invaluable to both students and the general reader.[via]More editions of Beowulf:
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Cliffscomplete Hamletby Sidney Lamb, Terri MategranoISBN 0764585681 (0-7645-8568-1)
Softcover, John Wiley & Sons Inc
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Cliffscomplete Hamlet'Book summary:In the CliffsComplete guides, the novel's complete text and a glossary appear side-by-side with coordinating numbered lines to help you understand unusual words and phrasing. You'll also find all the commentary and resources of a standard CliffsNotes for Literature.[via]CliffsComplete Hamlet covers details of the most widely produced and critiqued Shakespearean play. Written in poignant language, Hamlet contains all the elements necessary for a good tragedy, including a brave and daring hero who suffers a fatal flaw.
Discover what happens to the complicated cast of characters and save valuable studying time all at once. Enhance your reading of Hamlet with these additional features:
- A summary and insightful commentary for each chapter
- Bibliography and historical background on the author, William Shakespeare
- A look at Early Modern England historical, intellectual, religious, and social context
- Insight into the play's classical elements and language
- A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
- Review questions, a quiz, discussion guide, and activity ideas
- A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Web sites
Streamline your literature study with all-in-one help from CliffsComplete guides!
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Cliffscomplete King Henry IVby Sidney Lamb, Michael McMahonISBN 0764585703 (0-7645-8570-3)
Softcover, John Wiley & Sons Inc
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Cliffscomplete King Henry IV'Book summary:In the CliffsComplete guides, the novel's complete text and a glossary appear side-by-side with coordinating numbered lines to help you understand unusual words and phrasing. You'll also find all the commentary and resources of a standard CliffsNotes for Literature.[via]CliffsComplete King Henry IV, Part 1 follows the play's alternating comic and serious scenes as a young prince rebels against his father, who happens to be king, until he must go to the king's aid to stamp out the rebellion of nobles.
Discover a story of self-sacrifice and meet one of the theatre's most enduring comic characters, Falstaff and save valuable studying time all at once. Enhance your reading of King Henry IV with these additional features:
- A summary and insightful commentary for each chapter
- Bibliography and historical background on the author, William Shakespeare
- A look at Early Modern England intellectual, religious, political, and social context
- Coverage of key themes and use of language within the work
- A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
- Review questions, a quiz, discussion guide, and activity ideas
- A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Web sites
Streamline your literature study with all-in-one help from CliffsComplete guides!
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Cliffscomplete Shakespeare's the Taming of the Shrewby Diana SweeneyISBN 0764587293 (0-7645-8729-3)
Softcover, John Wiley & Sons Inc
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Cliffscomplete Shakespeare's the Taming of the Shrew'Book summary:In the CliffsComplete guides, the play's complete text and a glossary appear side-by-side with coordinating numbered lines to help you understand unusual words and phrasing. You'll also find all the commentary and resources of a standard CliffsNotes for Literature.[via]CliffsComplete The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare's most beloved, and imitated, works. In this play within a play, Petruchio, the man from Verona, marries Kate (the shrew of the story), so that Kate's younger sister Bianca may be allowed to take on several suitors and choose one to marry.
Discover what happens to Petruchio and Kate and save valuable studying time all at once. Enhance your reading of The Taming of the Shrew with these additional features:
- A summary and insightful commentary for each act
- Bibliography and historical background on the author, William Shakespeare
- A look at the historical context and structure of the play
- Discussions on the plays symbols and themes
- A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
- Review questions, a quiz, discussion topics (essay questions), activity ideas
- A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites
Streamline your literature study with all-in-one help from CliffsComplete guides!
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Cliffscomplete the Merchant of Veniceby David Nicol, Sidney LambISBN 0764585754 (0-7645-8575-4)
Softcover, John Wiley & Sons Inc
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Cliffscomplete the Tempestby Matthew C. HansenISBN 0764585762 (0-7645-8576-2)
Softcover, John Wiley & Sons Inc
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Cliffscomplete the Tempest'Book summary:In the CliffsComplete guides, the play's complete text and a glossary appear side-by-side with coordinating numbered lines to help you understand unusual words and phrasing. You'll also find all the commentary and resources of a standard CliffsNotes for Literature.[via]CliffsComplete The Tempest tells the famous story of Prospero and his daughter Miranda. Through magic, Prospero has conjured up a storm that brings a ship full of his enemies to the island on which he and Miranda live. What follows is Shakespeare's comic masterpiece that's full of intrigue and romance.
Discover what happens to Prospero and Miranda and save valuable studying time all at once. Enhance your reading of The Tempest with these additional features:
- A summary and insightful commentary for each act
- Bibliography and historical background on the author, William Shakespeare
- A look at the historical context and structure of the play
- Discussions on the plays symbols and themes
- A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters
- Review questions, a quiz, discussion topics (essay questions), activity ideas
- A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Internet sites
Streamline your literature study with all-in-one help from CliffsComplete guides!
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Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas: 1934-1952by Dylan ThomasISBN 0756783399 (0-7567-8339-9)
Softcover, Diane Pub Co
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Collected Poems, 1934-1953by Dylan ThomasISBN 0753810662 (0-7538-1066-2)
Softcover, Phoenix
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A Collection of Rudyard Kipling's Just So Storiesby Rudyard Kipling, Peter Sis, Satoshi Kitamura, Jane Ray, Jeff Fisher, Louise Voce, Cathie Felstead, Clare MelinskyISBN 0763626295 (0-7636-2629-5)
Hardcover, Candlewick Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'A Collection of Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories'Book summary:In this gorgeous collection featuring eight of Kipling's JUST SO STORIES, each tale is illustrated by a different leading contemporary artist.
How did the rude Rhinoceros get his baggy skin? How did a 'satiably curious Elephant change the lives of his kin evermore? First told aloud to his young daughter ("O my Best Beloved"), Rudyard Kipling's inspired answers to these and other burning questions draw from the fables he heard as a child in India and the folktales he gathered from around the world. Now, in this sumptuous volume, Kipling's playful, inventive tales are brought to life by eight of today's celebrated illustrators, from Peter Sís's elegantly graphic cetacean in "How the Whale Got His Throat" to Satoshi Kitamura's amusingly expressive characters in "The Cat That Walked by Himself." From one of the world's greatest storytellers come eight classic tales just begging to be heard by a new generation and a visual feast that offers a reward with every retelling.
Featuring illustrations by:
Christopher Corr
Cathie Felstead
Jeff Fisher
Satoshi Kitamura
Claire Melinsky
Jane Ray
Peter Sís
Louise Voce [via]More editions of A Collection of Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories:
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David Copperfieldby Charles DickensISBN 0785787895 (0-7857-8789-5)
Hardcover, Bt Bound
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› Find signed collectible books: 'David Copperfield'Book summary:Beginning in 1854 up through to his death in 1870, Charles Dickens abridged and adapted many of his more popular works and performed them as staged readings. This version, each page illustrated with lovely watercolor paintings, is a beautiful example of one of these adaptations.
Because it is quite seriously abridged, the story concentrates primarily on the extended family of Mr. Peggotty: his orphaned nephew, Ham; his adopted niece, Little Emily; and Mrs. Gummidge, self-described as "a lone lorn creetur and everythink went contrairy with her." When Little Emily runs away with Copperfield's former schoolmate, leaving Mr. Peggotty completely brokenhearted, the whole family is thrown into turmoil. But Dickens weaves some comic relief throughout the story with the introduction of Mr. and Mrs. Micawber, and David's love for his pretty, silly "child-wife," Dora. Dark nights, mysterious locations, and the final destructive storm provide classic Dickensian drama. Although this is not David Copperfield in its entirety, it is a great introduction to the world and the language of Charles Dickens. [via]
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David Copperfieldby Harold BloomISBN 0791009378 (0-7910-0937-8)
Hardcover, Facts on File
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Edward the Secondby Christopher Marlowe, Charles ForkerISBN 0719030897 (0-7190-3089-7)
Softcover, Manchester University Press
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Endgameby Samuel BeckettISBN 0802150241 (0-8021-5024-1)
Softcover, Grove Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Endgame'Book summary:[via]Samuel Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature n 1969; his literary output of plays, novels, stories and poetry has earned him an uncontested place as one of the greatest writers of our time. "Endgame, " originally written in French and translated into English by Beckett himself, is considered by many critics to be his greatest single work. A pinnacle of Beckett's characteristic raw minimalism, it is a pure and devastating distillation of the human essence in the face of approaching death.More editions of Endgame:
The Good Soldierby Ford M. HueffnerISBN 0742630986 (0-7426-3098-6)
Hardcover, Classic Books
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The Great Pint-Pulling Olympiadby Roger BoylanISBN 0802140327 (0-8021-4032-7)
Softcover, Grove Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'The Great Pint-Pulling Olympiad'Book summary:Roger Boylan's first novel, Killoyle, established him as a brilliant successor to such Irish masters as Joyce, Beckett, and J. P. Donleavy. Now his new farce follows the hapless inhabitants of Killoyle, Ireland, through the frenetic week of the Pint-Pulling Olympiad. After local lush Mick McCreek gets into a car crash with a cross-dressing church sexton, he enlists a lawyer, Tom O'Mallet. As it turns out, the lawyer's real gig is selling missiles to the IRA, and he plans to use his clueless client as a patsy. O'Mallet also hoodwinks Anil, an Indian waiter who has found himself the unlikely target of a manhunt. What Tom doesn't know is that his lucrative weapons are destined for a massive terrorist attack on the Pint-Pulling Olympiad, and that Anil's sexy cousin Rashmi a sweatshop worker turned intelligence operative is hot on the bombers' trail. With a wink and a nudge, Boylan's pyrotechnic prose brings to life Ireland at its manic extremes, proving the author a dazzling and distinctive talent in American fiction.[via]More editions of The Great Pint-Pulling Olympiad:
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Hamletby William ShakespeareISBN 074347712X (0-7434-7712-X)
Softcover, Washington Square Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Hamlet'Book summary:Undoubtedly the most famous of all of Shakespeare's plays, Hamlet remains one of the most enduring but also enigmatic pieces of western literature. The story of Hamlet, the young Prince of Denmark, his tortured relationship with his mother, and his quest to avenge his father's murder at the hand of his brother Claudius has fascinated writers and audiences ever since it was written around 1600.
For many years interest focused on both Hamlet's inability to avenge his father's death, claiming that "the native hue of resolution / Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought", and, according to none other than Freud, his oedipal fixation with his mother. However, more recently critics have turned their attention to Hamlet's bold theatrical self-reflexivity (most famously reflected in the performance of "The Mousetrap"), its fascination with issues of theology and Renaissance humanism, and its dense, complex poetic language. What is so remarkable about the play is the way in which it tends to uncannily reflect the concerns of different epochs. As a result, Hamlet has been at different moments defined as a romantic rebel, an angst-ridden existentialist, a paralysed intellectual and an ambivalent New Man. Whatever subsequent generations make of Hamlet, they are unlikely to exhaust the possibilities of this most extraordinary play. --Jerry Brotton [via]
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- Hamlet: ISBN 0743482786 (0-7434-8278-6)
Softcover, Washington Square Pr - Hamlet: ISBN 0747549133 (0-7475-4913-3)
Softcover, Bloomsbury Pub Ltd - Hamlet: ISBN 0764120840 (0-7641-2084-0)
Softcover, Barron's Educational Series, Incorporated - Hamlet: ISBN 0774032448 (0-7740-3244-8)
Softcover, Coles Pub Group Ltd - Hamlet: ISBN 0748703462 (0-7487-0346-2)
Softcover, Dufour Editions - Hamlet: ISBN 074347712X (0-7434-7712-X)
Softcover, Washington Square Pr
- Hamlet: ISBN 0743482786 (0-7434-8278-6)
Hard Timesby Charles DickensISBN 0749307617 (0-7493-0761-7)
Softcover, Heinemann
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secretsby J. K. RowlingISBN 0747545774 (0-7475-4577-4)
Hardcover, Trafalgar Square Books
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'Book summary:What makes the Harry Potter series so successful? Maybe it's the fact that J.K. Rowling doesn't write children's books, she writes children's stories, more in the tradition of the Brothers Grimm than Dr. Seuss. The exploits of Harry and his friends captivate even the shortest attention spans by engaging the imagination with vivid characters and fast-moving action, instead of trying to merely catch the eye with colorful pictures or pop-up effects. Not surprisingly, the Potter tales sound wonderful read aloud, and adapt to the audiobook format extremely well. Broadway actor Jim Dale's impressive vocal range gives each character in the book its own distinctive voice--a considerable task, given the pantheon of witches, warlocks, ghosts, ghouls, dwarves, and elves that Harry encounters in his second outing. And thankfully, since the book is read unabridged, no one's favorite character is omitted. Engaging for children without being childish, the audio version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is worthy addition to the deservedly popular series. (Running time: 9 hours, 7 CDs) --Andrew Nieland [via]
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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fireby J. K. RowlingISBN 074754624X (0-7475-4624-X)
Hardcover, Bloomsbury Pub Ltd
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'Book summary:Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire CD Set tells the story of Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 18 CDs. The audio book is also available in two volumes, Part 1 and Part 2, each containing 9 CDs.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the long-awaited, heavily hyped fourth instalment of a phenomenally successful series that has captured the imagination of millions of readers, young and old, across the globe. For J K Rowling the pressure is certainly on to continue to come up with thrilling, pacey storylines that allow her hero to mature into a young man without detracting from the magical secret that has made Harry into a superstar. In this book, the teenage Harry has a certain gawky charm that fits well with his advancing adolescence. As the story moves on, Harry too moves on to a new level of maturity that leaves the reader wondering how he will learn from his experiences, and liking him all the more as a character.
Once returned to Hogwarts after his summer holiday with the dreadful Dursleys and an extraordinary outing to the Quidditch World Cup, the 14-year-old Harry and his fellow pupils are enraptured by the promise of the Triwizard Tournament: an ancient, ritualistic tournament that brings Hogwarts together with two other schools of wizardry--Durmstrang and Beauxbatons--in heated competition. But when Harry's name is pulled from the Goblet of Fire, and he is chosen to champion Hogwarts in the tournament, the trouble really begins. Still reeling from the effects of a terrifying nightmare that has left him shaken, and with the lightning-shaped scar on his head throbbing with pain (a sure sign that the evil Voldemort, Harry's sworn enemy, is close), Harry becomes at once the most popular boy in school. Yet, despite his fame, he is totally unprepared for the furore that follows.
This is a hefty volume: 636 pages, of which probably at least 200 could have been cut without detracting from the story. The weight and complexity of the book is perhaps a hint that Rowling now has her eye sharply focused on her adult audience, and the average child-reader (particularly one who is coming to Harry Potter for the first time) may well find its girth daunting. Rowling's ironic and pointed observations on tabloid journalism and the nature of media hype is just one of the references littered through the book that will tickle the grown-ups but may well fly over the heads of her young fans.
However, after a slow start, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire really starts to sparkle halfway through with Rowling's familiar magic (and yes, there is a death--sudden and tragic--and yes, Harry does start to notice girls). The crux of this story, however, is Harry's gradual coming-of-age and his handling of the increasingly determined threats to his own life.
This book is pivotal, not just for the author for whom the heat is well and truly on, but for Harry and his readers who, by the last chapter, are left in little doubt that there is much more to come. (Ages 10 to adult) --Susan Harrison [via]
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Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Princeby J. K. Rowling, Mary GrandpreISBN 0786277459 (0-7862-7745-9)
Hardcover, Thorndike Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince'Book summary:The deluxe edition includes a 32-page insert featuring near scale reproductions of Mary GrandPré's interior art, as well as never-before-seen full-color frontispiece art on special paper. The custom-designed slipcase is foil-stamped and inside is a full cloth case book, blind-stamped on front and back cover, foil stamped on spine. The book includes full-color endpapers with jacket art from the Trade edition and a wraparound jacket featuring exclusive, suitable-for-framing art from Mary GrandPré.
Potter News You Can Use
J.K. Rowling has revealed three chapter titles from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to be:
- Chapter Two: "Spinners End"
- Chapter Six: "Draco's Detour"
- Chapter Fourteen: "Felix Felicis"
A Few Words from J.K. Rowling
"I am an extraordinarily lucky person, doing what I love best in the world. Im sure that I will always be a writer. It was wonderful enough just to be published. The greatest reward is the enthusiasm of the readers." --J.K. Rowling. Find out more about Harry's creator in our exclusive interview with J.K. Rowling.
Why We Love Harry
Favorite Moments from the Series
There are plenty of reasons to love Rowling's wildly popular series--no doubt you have several dozen of your own. Our list features favorite moments, characters, and artifacts from all five books. Keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive (what we love about Harry could fill five books!) and does not include any of the spectacular revelatory moments that would spoil the books for those (few) who have not read them. Enjoy.Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
- Harry's first trip to the zoo with the Dursleys, when a boa constrictor winks at him.
- When the Dursleys' house is suddenly besieged by letters for Harry from Hogwarts. Readers learn how much the Dursleys have been keeping from Harry. Rowling does a wonderful job in displaying the lengths to which Uncle Vernon will go to deny that magic exists.
- Harry's first visit to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. Full of curiosities and rich with magic and marvel, Harry's first trip includes a trip to Gringotts and Ollivanders, where Harry gets his wand (holly and phoenix feather) and discovers yet another connection to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. This moment is the reader's first full introduction to Rowling's world of witchcraft and wizards.
- Harry's experience with the Sorting Hat.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- The de-gnoming of the Weasleys' garden. Harry discovers that even wizards have chores--gnomes must be grabbed (ignoring angry protests "Gerroff me! Gerroff me!"), swung about (to make them too dizzy to come back), and tossed out of the garden--this delightful scene highlights Rowling's clever and witty genius.
- Harry's first experience with a Howler, sent to Ron by his mother.
- The Dueling Club battle between Harry and Malfoy. Gilderoy Lockhart starts the Dueling Club to help students practice spells on each other, but he is not prepared for the intensity of the animosity between Harry and Draco. Since they are still young, their minibattle is innocent enough, including tickling and dancing charms.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Ron's attempt to use a telephone to call Harry at the Dursleys'.
- Harry's first encounter with a Dementor on the train (and just about any other encounter with Dementors). Harry's brush with the Dementors is terrifying and prepares Potter fans for a darker, scarier book.
- Harry, Ron, and Hermione's behavior in Professor Trelawney's Divination class. Some of the best moments in Rowling's books occur when she reminds us that the wizards-in-training at Hogwarts are, after all, just children. Clearly, even at a school of witchcraft and wizardry, classes can be boring and seem pointless to children.
- The Boggart lesson in Professor Lupin's classroom.
- Harry, Ron, and Hermione's knock-down confrontation with Snape.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Hermione's disgust at the reception for the veela (Bulgarian National Team Mascots) at the Quidditch World Cup. Rowling's fourth book addresses issues about growing up--the dynamic between the boys and girls at Hogwarts starts to change. Nowhere is this more plain than the hilarious scene in which magical cheerleaders nearly convince Harry and Ron to jump from the stands to impress them.
- Viktor Krum's crush on Hermione--and Ron's objection to it.
- Malfoy's "Potter Stinks" badge.
- Hermione's creation of S.P.E.W., the intolerant bigotry of the Death Eaters, and the danger of the Triwizard Tournament. Add in the changing dynamics between girls and boys at Hogwarts, and suddenly Rowling's fourth book has a weight and seriousness not as present in early books in the series. Candy and tickle spells are left behind as the students tackle darker, more serious issues and take on larger responsibilities, including the knowledge of illegal curses.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry's outburst to his friends at No. 12 Grimmauld Place. A combination of frustration over being kept in the dark and fear that he will be expelled fuels much of Harry's anger, and it all comes out at once, directly aimed at Ron and Hermione. Rowling perfectly portrays Harry's frustration at being too old to shirk responsibility, but too young to be accepted as part of the fight that he knows is coming.
- Harry's detention with Professor Umbridge. Rowling shows her darker side, leading readers to believe that Hogwarts is no longer a safe haven for young wizards. Dolores represents a bureaucratic tyrant capable of real evil, and Harry is forced to endure their private battle of wills alone.
- Harry and Cho's painfully awkward interactions. Rowling clearly remembers what it was like to be a teenager.
- Harry's Occlumency lessons with Snape.
- Dumbledore's confession to Harry.
Begin at the Beginning
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Hardcover
PaperbackHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Hardcover
PaperbackHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Hardcover
PaperbackHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Hardcover
PaperbackHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Hardcover
PaperbackIf You Like J.K. Rowling, You'll Love These Authors&
- Cornelia Funke
- Eoin Colfer
- Garth Nix
New Novels to Keep You Busy
Cry of the Icemark
The Dark Hills Divide
Singer of All Songs
The Game of Sunken Places
Children of the Lamp
Dragon RiderAuthors Younger Potter Fans Should Try&
- Geronimo Stilton
- Andy Griffiths
- Dav Pilkey
While You Wait
Hot New Series for Potter Fans
Charlie Bone
Guardians of Ga'hoole
Keys to the Kingdom
Underland Chronicles
Dragons of DeltoraA Few Words from Mary GrandPré
"When I illustrate a cover or a book, I draw upon what the author tells me; that's how I see my responsibility as an illustrator. J.K. Rowling is very descriptive in her writing--she gives an illustrator a lot to work with. Each story is packed full of rich visual descriptions of the atmosphere, the mood, the setting, and all the different creatures and people. She makes it easy for me. The images just develop as I sketch and retrace until it feels right and matches her vision." Check out more Harry Potter art from illustrator Mary GrandPré.Did You Know?
[via]
The Little White Horse was J.K. Rowling's favorite book as a child. 
Jane Austen is Rowling's favorite author. 
Roddy Doyle is Rowling's favorite living writer. More editions of Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince:
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixby J. K. Rowling, Mary GrandpreISBN 0786257784 (0-7862-5778-4)
Hardcover, Thorndike Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'Book summary:
Book Description--Special Features of the Deluxe Edition
This cloth-covered deluxe edition features full-color printed endpapers and a foil-stamped title on the spine, and comes complete with a full-color slipcase with matte lamination and foil-stamping. Best of all, the removable, suitable-for-framing book jacket is emblazoned with exclusive, original artwork (that's different than the regular edition) by illustrator Mary GrandPré--a one-of-a-kind keepsake that you won't find anywhere else.
About the Artist: Mary GrandPré
Award-winning artist, conceptual illustrator, animated film scenery developer, ad designer, and, oh yes, illustrator for a worldwide children's book phenomenon, Mary GrandPré somehow manages to juggle all her hats quite well, to mix a metaphor. It seems appropriate to mix metaphors when you're talking about someone who has mixed her media--and her genres--so gracefully ever since she was a child.
As a 5-year-old, GrandPré began drawing. Five or six years later she was experimenting with Salvador Dali-style oil painting. Next she moved on to copying black-and-white photos out of the encyclopedia. Later still she decided to go to art school (Minneapolis College of Art and Design), where she learned that being an artist and being an illustrator were not mutually exclusive.
A couple of decades later, after working in corporate advertising, film (GrandPré created the environment and scenery art for the animated film Antz), and book publishing, this multitalented artist received a call asking if she might like to work on a book cover and some black-and-white illustrations for a book about a young wizard named Harry Potter. The rest--dare we say it?--is history.
Exclusive Amazon Interview:
The Painter of PotterConsidering she may be the best-known illustrator on the planet right now, Mary GrandPré is remarkably mild, modest, and down-to-earth. In a conversation with Amazon.com's Emilie Coulter, the Harry Potter illustrator talks about her dog and her dad, Walt Disney's magic, and, of course, Book Five. Amazon.com:
You've read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix--what do you think? Mary GrandPré: I think it's wonderful. It's unique, it's different from the rest. I think it's a really exciting part of the Harry Potter series. Amazon.com: Which Harry Potter book have you liked the best? GrandPré: I think they all stand alone, so I appreciate them separately, but when you tie them all together into the story you can't really have one without the other. I don't have a favorite. They're all great. Amazon.com: What was your original artistic inspiration for the first Harry Potter book? How did Harry end up looking like Harry? GrandPré: 
When I illustrate a cover or a book, I draw upon what the author tells me; that's how I see my responsibility as an illustrator. J.K. Rowling is very descriptive in her writing--she gives an illustrator a lot to work with. Each story is packed full of rich visual descriptions of the atmosphere, the mood, the setting, and all the different creatures and people. She makes it easy for me. The images just develop as I sketch and retrace until it feels right and matches her vision. Amazon.com: How closely do you work with J.K. Rowling? GrandPré: I've only met her once, a couple years ago. The publisher shows her sketches and gets feedback, but she and I don't communicate. This is pretty typical for illustrator/author relationships: they keep our visions and voices separate. Amazon.com: How are you handling Harry growing up? GrandPré:
It's exciting. I kind of feel like his mom--or maybe his step-mom. J.K. Rowling is his mom. But I feel like it's a tricky thing to create a character and then age him. You have to take careful note of how that happens because any little tiny difference in a face can make the whole person look very different. Over the years Harry has become pretty solid in my mind. I just do a lot of experimenting on the drawing board, playing with how I would technically change this or that part of his face. What's really exciting is how Harry's personality changes from book to book, his level of confidence, things you see in normal kids. It's really fun to bring that into the drawings.
What's really exciting is how Harry's personality changes from book to book, his level of confidence, things you see in normal kids. It's really fun to bring that into the drawings.
Amazon.com: You've called your artistic style "soft geometry." What do you mean by that? GrandPré: I don't know if that happens so much in Harry Potter covers; in my other work you see it more--it's stylized, abstract. It's just a simplification of subject matter, an abstraction, but not enough to not be approachable. I'm inspired by people like [Edward] Hopper and Henry Moore, who is one of my favorite artists. Amazon.com: And who is your favorite children's book illustrator? GrandPré:
I'd say Maurice Sendak is one of them. As a kid I was really, really inspired by early Walt Disney. That sense of magic is something I want to bring into my work in my own way. It's hard to say who's my favorite--it changes. It's more about favorite pieces of art. I do like a variety of artwork. I don't feel fresh doing the same thing over and over, so I like to view a lot of art and be inspired by it according to subject or story, more so than just by illustrators or authors. Amazon.com: What do you think of the artwork in the international editions? GrandPré: I've only seen a couple of these editions. Everybody has their own vision of the story and what it should look like. To be honest, I really just focus on what I need to do with the books. That's even true for the movie and Harry Potter as a product, I try to stay focused on what's happening in my studio with Harry. Amazon.com: It must have been amazing to see the characters you worked with come to life in the movies. GrandPré:
It was pretty cool. I thought they were really good. It was so much fun to see the magic on the screen. Once in a while I would catch a glimpse of something that might have been inspired by something they saw in one of the books that I had drawn and that was great. I don't know if it was in there or not, but I'd like to think so! Amazon.com: Do you have a favorite character in all the books? GrandPré: Besides Harry, who's my favorite, obviously, I would say Hagrid because he's like my favorite people in my life. He's a lot like my dad: protective and loyal and big and sweet; and he's a lot like my dog, who's part St. Bernard and has the same qualities. I kind of have a personal connection with Hagrid. Amazon.com: Any advice for a budding illustrator? GrandPré:
Yes, I would just say keep working hard and don't give up. Illustration, like any form of art, is up for criticism, but it has to come from the heart or it's not good. If you're not enjoying what you're doing, keep trying new things because your best work will come from work you enjoy. Constantly try to listen to your inner voice about who you are as an artist and what you do and what you know. I don't know about magic but I know that I'm moved by it--I have been since I was a little kid--and it tends to come into my work even when I'm not illustrating things of magic. Just continue to try and be relaxed and natural about how you draw. Try to bring yourself out in your work. Amazon.com: If you could choose to live your life exactly the way you wanted to, no holds barred, what would change? GrandPré: I'd have a lot more time to do personal work. No holds barred, I would probably paint for myself, just go nuts, experiment, be my own art director, be my own critic, experience total freedom in my artwork. I try to do that in my work now, but it's hard to do when you are problem solving and illustrating other people's visions. I'm starting to write my own picture books now, so part of that dream is coming into view for me.
Mary GrandPré's Art: See more of Mary GrandPré's art from previous Harry Potter books
Illustrations by Mary GrandPré © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003 Warner Bros. [via]More editions of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stoneby J. K. RowlingISBN 0747532745 (0-7475-3274-5)
Softcover, Bloomsbury Pub Ltd
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'Book summary:Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Cassette Travel Bag is a complete and unabridged reading by Stephen Fry on six cassettes, contained in a travel box. A CD travel bag is also available.
Just when it seems that there cannot possibly be another twist to the Harry Potter tale, Stephen Fry dons his haughtiest and naughtiest tones to bring Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to vibrant life on audio. Harry Potter has spent the first 10 years of his life at the mercy of the dreadful Dursleys--the aunt, uncle and fat, spoilt brat of a cousin who reluctantly gave him a home after the death of his mother and father. But on his 11th birthday Harry discovers that he is no ordinary boy, and despite the best efforts of his hideous relatives he escapes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to begin his new life as a trainee wizard. And the rest, as they say, is history...
As Harry battles against the evils thrown in his path, Stephen Fry injects the proceedings with a wry, dry and extremely contagious humour that perfectly suits the tale, wringing out the best in Harry and his cohorts as they get to grips with their new lives at the sharp end of Hogwarts. Fry's innate upper-class drone is perfectly suited to the telling of this most magical tale, cracking into the high-pitched squawking of Hermione the swat, or the gentle tones of the firm but fair Dumbledore, or the evil sniping of slimey Snape at precisely the right moments.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a fine story and much has been written about its success, but until you have heard Fry's cracking reading of this most magical of stories then you simply haven't lived. As with any audio book, this one is perfect for car journeys and an ideal way of introducing reluctant readers to the magic that is Harry Potter. (Ages 9 and over) --Susan Harrison
Running time: 8 hrs 25 mins [via]
More editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone:
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: ISBN 0747542988 (0-7475-4298-8)
Softcover, Bloomsbury Pub Ltd - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: ISBN 0747532699 (0-7475-3269-9)
Hardcover, Bloomsbury Pub Ltd - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: ISBN 0747545723 (0-7475-4572-3)
Hardcover, Bloomsbury Pub Ltd - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: ISBN 0747532745 (0-7475-3274-5)
Softcover, Bloomsbury Pub Ltd
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stoneby J. K. Rowling, Mary GrandpreISBN 0786222727 (0-7862-2272-7)
Hardcover, Thorndike Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'Book summary:Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Cassette Travel Bag is a complete and unabridged reading by Stephen Fry on six cassettes, contained in a travel box. A CD travel bag is also available.
Just when it seems that there cannot possibly be another twist to the Harry Potter tale, Stephen Fry dons his haughtiest and naughtiest tones to bring Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to vibrant life on audio. Harry Potter has spent the first 10 years of his life at the mercy of the dreadful Dursleys--the aunt, uncle and fat, spoilt brat of a cousin who reluctantly gave him a home after the death of his mother and father. But on his 11th birthday Harry discovers that he is no ordinary boy, and despite the best efforts of his hideous relatives he escapes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to begin his new life as a trainee wizard. And the rest, as they say, is history...
As Harry battles against the evils thrown in his path, Stephen Fry injects the proceedings with a wry, dry and extremely contagious humour that perfectly suits the tale, wringing out the best in Harry and his cohorts as they get to grips with their new lives at the sharp end of Hogwarts. Fry's innate upper-class drone is perfectly suited to the telling of this most magical tale, cracking into the high-pitched squawking of Hermione the swat, or the gentle tones of the firm but fair Dumbledore, or the evil sniping of slimey Snape at precisely the right moments.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a fine story and much has been written about its success, but until you have heard Fry's cracking reading of this most magical of stories then you simply haven't lived. As with any audio book, this one is perfect for car journeys and an ideal way of introducing reluctant readers to the magic that is Harry Potter. (Ages 9 and over) --Susan Harrison
Running time: 8 hrs 25 mins [via]
More editions of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone:
Henry Vby William ShakespeareISBN 0743484878 (0-7434-8487-8)
Softcover, Pocket Classics
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Henry V'Book summary:FOLGER Shakespeare Library
THE WORLD'S LEADING CENTER FOR SHAKESPEARE STUDIES
Each edition includes:
· Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play
· Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play
· Scene-by-scene plot summaries
· A key to famous lines and phrases
· An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language
· An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play
· Illustrations from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books
Essay by Alexander Leggatt
The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit www.folger.edu. [via]
James Joyce's a Portrait of the Artist As a Young Manby James JoyceISBN 0791045668 (0-7910-4566-8)
Softcover, Facts on File
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› Find signed collectible books: 'James Joyce's a Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man'Book summary:James Joyce envisioned A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man as an autobiographical look at the epiphanies of his life. This text compiles some of the most noteworthy critical examinations of the novel. Subjects covered include language as structure in the novel, the motif of hands, Joyce as a symbolist, and more.
This series is edited by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University; Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Professor of English, New York University Graduate School. These texts are the ideal aid for all students of literature, presenting concise, easy-to-understand biographical, critical, and bibliographical information on a specific literary work. Also provided are multiple sources for book reports and term papers with a wealth of information on literary works, authors, and major characters. [via]
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James Joyce's Portrait of the Artist As a Young Manby Harold BloomISBN 0791045706 (0-7910-4570-6)
Hardcover, Facts on File
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The Jew of Maltaby Christopher MarloweISBN 0713666706 (0-7136-6670-6)
Softcover, Methuen Drama
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› Find signed collectible books: 'The Jew of Malta'Book summary:This edition is of the best-known play by one of Shakespeares chief predecessors and early contemporaries, Christopher Marlowe. The Jew of Malta was enormously influential on Shakespeare when he came to write The Merchant of Venice, and for good reason, since the play explores anti-Semitism and revenge. An introduction discusses the significance of this formative and brilliant play, with detailed commentary provided for meanings of difficult words, lines and references. Distilled from the insight and learning found in the fuller Revels edition but updated and streamlined, this is the most contemporary commentary now available.[via]More editions of The Jew of Malta:
- The Jew of Malta: ISBN 0719016185 (0-7190-1618-5)
Softcover, Manchester Univ Pr - The Jew of Malta: ISBN 0719051800 (0-7190-5180-0)
Softcover, Manchester Univ Pr - The Jew of Malta: ISBN 0803252706 (0-8032-5270-6)
Softcover, Univ of Nebraska Pr - The Jew of Malta: ISBN 0713666706 (0-7136-6670-6)
Softcover, Methuen Drama
The Judgeby Rebecca WestISBN 0786702877 (0-7867-0287-7)
Softcover, Avalon Publishing Group
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› Find signed collectible books: 'The Judge'Book summary:This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally important and have elected to bring the book back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. [via]
Kimby Rudyard KiplingISBN 0783813538 (0-7838-1353-8)
Hardcover
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The Longest Journeyby E. M. ForsterISBN 0735100683 (0-7351-0068-3)
Hardcover, Replica Books
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› Find signed collectible books: 'The Longest Journey'Book summary:Bookish, sensitive Rickie Elliot is quite at home amid the placid and scholarly environs of Cambridge. That is, until he falls for the shallow young Agnes Pembroke. Forster skewers undergraduate philosophical debate, the opening day of a public school, and tea with a frightful dowager, as the dire consequences of mistaken love later developed in Howard's End take their toll. Together, these elements combine to form a deft blend of tragedy and social satire that readers will savor. [via]
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Master and Commanderby Patrick O'BrianISBN 075402248X (0-7540-2248-X)
Hardcover, Chivers
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The Merchant of Veniceby William Shakespeare, Paul Werstine, Barbara A. MowatISBN 0743477561 (0-7434-7756-1)
Softcover, Washington Square Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'The Merchant of Venice'Book summary:"Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?" Shylock's impassioned plea in the middle of The Merchant of Venice is one of its most dramatic moments. After the Holocaust, the play has become a battleground for those who argue that the play represents Shakespeare's ultimate statement against ignorance and anti-Semitism in favour of a liberal vision of tolerance and multiculturalism. Other critics have pointed out that the play is, after all, a comedy that ultimately pokes fun at a 16th-century Jew. In fact, the bare outline of the plot suggests that the play is far more complex than either of these characterisations. Bassanio, a feckless young Venetian, asks his wealthy friend, the merchant Antonio, for money to finance a trip to woo the beautiful Portia in Belmont. Reluctant to refuse his friend (to whom he professes intense love), Antonio borrows the money from the Jewish moneylender. If he reneges on the deal, Shylock jokingly demands a pound of his flesh. When all Antonio's ships are lost at sea, Shylock calls in his debt, and the love and laughter of the first scenes of the play threaten to give way to death and tragedy. The final climactic courtroom scene, complete with a cross-dressed Portia, a knife-wielding Shylock, and the debate on "the quality of mercy" is one of the great dramatic moments in Shakespeare. The controversial subject matter of the play ensures that it continues to repel, divide but also fascinate its many audiences. --Jerry Brotton [via]
More editions of The Merchant of Venice:
The Merchant of Venice : Texts and Contextsby William Shakespeare, Barbara A. Mowat, Paul WerstineISBN 0743452984 (0-7434-5298-4)
Hardcover, Simon & Schuster
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› Find signed collectible books: 'The Merchant of Venice : Texts and Contexts'Book summary:In The Merchant of Venice, the penniless but attractive Bassanio seeks, and finally wins, the hand of the fabulously wealthy Portia. But even as the play provokes laughter, it also provokes something disturbing, as Bassanio's courtship is actually financed by the magnificent villain Shylock the moneylender -- the focus of anti-Semitic sentiment, and one of the most controversial yet strangely sympathetic of Shakespeare's characters, whose actions and whose treatment in the play are still debated to this day. [via]
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Of Human Bondageby W. Somerset MaughamISBN 0735101213 (0-7351-0121-3)
Hardcover, Replica Books
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Of Human Bondage'Book summary:From an orphan with a clubfoot, Philip Carey grows into an impressionable young man with a voracious appetite for adventure and knowledge. Then he falls obsessively in love, embarking on a disastrous relationship that will change his life forever.[via]More editions of Of Human Bondage:
The Old Curiosity Shopby Charles DickensISBN 0749307544 (0-7493-0754-4)
Softcover, Heinemann
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On Beautyby Zadie SmithISBN 078628319X (0-7862-8319-X)
Hardcover, Thorndike Pr
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The Passionby Jeanette WintersonISBN 0802135226 (0-8021-3522-6)
Softcover, Grove Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'The Passion'Book summary:In 1985 Jeanette Winterson won the Whitbread Award for best first fiction for the semi-autobiographical Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, an often wry exploration of lesbian possibility bumping up against evangelical fanaticism. She was 25. Two years later, The Passion, her third novel, appeared, the fantastical tale of Henri--Napoleon's cook--and Villanelle, a Venetian gondolier's daughter who has webbed feet (previously an all-male attribute), works as a croupier, picks pockets, cross-dresses, and literally loses her heart to a beautiful woman. Written in a lyrical and jolting combination of fairy tale diction and rhythm and the staccato, the book would be a risky proposition in lesser hands. Winterson has said that she wanted to look at people's need to worship and examine what happens to young men in militaristic societies. The question was, how to do so without being polemical and didactic? Only she could have come up with such an exquisite answer. In the end, Henri, incarcerated on an island of madmen, becomes aware that his passion, "even though she could never return it, showed me the difference between inventing a lover and falling in love. The one is about you, the other about someone else." [via]
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The Picture of Dorian Grayby Oscar Wilde, Peter AckroydISBN 0783815476 (0-7838-1547-6)
Hardcover, G K Hall & Co
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The Poetical Works Of Alfred Lord Tennysonby Alfred TennysonISBN 0766196089 (0-7661-9608-9)
Softcover, Kessinger Pub Co
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› Find signed collectible books: 'The Poetical Works Of Alfred Lord Tennyson'Book summary:1902. Tennyson, English poet, is often regarded as the chief representative of the Victorian age in poetry. Tennyson succeeded Wordsworth as Poet Laureate in 1850. This volume includes his major poetic achievements including: the elegy mourning the death of his friend Arthur Hallam, In Memoriam. The patriotic poem Charge of the Light Brigade. Maud is one of Tennyson's best known works, although at first it was found obscure or morbid by critics ranging from George Eliot to Gladstone. And, Enoch Arden, which was based on a true story of a sailor thought drowned at sea who returned home after several years to find that his wife had remarried. [via]
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Pygmalionby George Bernard ShawISBN 0766608298 (0-7666-0829-8)
Hardcover, Modern Pub
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Pygmalion'Book summary:[via]A rousing success on the London and New York stages, a popular film, and a great musical hit ("My Fair Lady"), this brilliantly written play, with its irresistible theme of the emerging butterfly, is one of the most acclaimed comedies in the English language. Includes Shaw's Preface and "Sequel."More editions of Pygmalion:
Robinson Crusoeby Daniel DefoeISBN 0804900221 (0-8049-0022-1)
Softcover, Airmont Pub Co
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Robinson Crusoe'Book summary:Son of a middle-class Englishman, Robinson Crusoe takes to the sea to find adventure. And find it he does when on one of his voyages he is shipwrecked on a deserted South American island for thirty-five years. After scavenging his broken ship for useful items, he had only his skills and ingenuity to keep him alive as there was to be no one else on the island for the next twenty-four years. In the middle of that twenty-fourth year he rescued a native about to be eaten by cannibals who were using his island for a place of feasting. Crusoe named this man Friday, after the day of his rescue. Friday became his faithful servant and friend, even returning with him to England after their deliverance by an English ship. Listeners will enjoy Crusoe's determination for survival against all odds and admire the spirituality that gave him the strength to survive. A hero through the ages, he richly deserves the admiration that has endured over three centuries. [via]
More editions of Robinson Crusoe:
- Robinson Crusoe: ISBN 0766607666 (0-7666-0766-6)
Hardcover, Modern Pub - Robinson Crusoe: ISBN 0789436256 (0-7894-3625-6)
Hardcover, Dk Pub - Robinson Crusoe: ISBN 0762405511 (0-7624-0551-1)
Hardcover, Courage Books - Robinson Crusoe: ISBN 0762414197 (0-7624-1419-7)
Hardcover, Courage Books - Robinson Crusoe: ISBN 0804900221 (0-8049-0022-1)
Softcover, Airmont Pub Co
Room of Ones' Ownby Virginia WoolfISBN 0783885555 (0-7838-8555-5)
Hardcover, G K Hall & Co
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The Screwtape Lettersby C. S. LewisISBN 0800606507 (0-8006-0650-7)
Hardcover, Augsburg Fortress Pub
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The Screwtape Letters/Book & Study Guideby C. S. LewisISBN 0800783360 (0-8007-8336-0)
Softcover, Baker Pub Group
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› Find signed collectible books: 'The Screwtape Letters/Book & Study Guide'Book summary:Book [via]
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Sexing the Cherryby Jeanette WintersonISBN 0802135781 (0-8021-3578-1)
Softcover, Grove Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Sexing the Cherry'Book summary:In a fantastic world that is and is not seventeenth-century England, a baby is found floating in the Thames. The child, Jordan, is rescued by Dog Woman and grows up to travel the world like Gulliver, though he finds that the worlds most curious oddities come from his own mind. Winterson leads the reader from discussions on the nature of time to Jordans fascination with journeys concealed within other journeys, all with a dizzying speed that shoots the reader from epiphany to shimmering epiphany.[via]More editions of Sexing the Cherry:
A Shilling for Candlesby Josephine TeyISBN 0745171141 (0-7451-7114-1)
Hardcover, Thorndike Pr
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The Taming of the Shrewby William Shakespeare, Paul Werstine, Barbara A. MowatISBN 074347757X (0-7434-7757-X)
Softcover, Washington Square Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'The Taming of the Shrew'Book summary:Renowned as Shakespeare's most boisterous comedy, The Taming of the Shrew is the tale of two young men -- the hopeful Lucentio and the worldly Petruchio -- and the two sisters they meet in Padua. Lucentio falls in love with Bianca, the apparently ideal younger daughter of the wealthy Baptista Minola. But before they can marry, Bianca's formidable elder sister, Katherine, must be wed. Petruchio, interested only in the huge dowry, arranges to marry Katherine -- against her will -- and enters into a battle of the sexes that has endured as one of Shakespeare's most enjoyable works. [via]
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The Tempestby William Shakespeare, Paul Werstine, Barbara A. MowatISBN 0743482832 (0-7434-8283-2)
Softcover, Pocket Classics
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› Find signed collectible books: 'The Tempest'Book summary:The most poetic and magical of Shakespeare's comedies, this play contrasts lyrical fantasy surrounding the spirit Ariel and the savage Calaban, with a tale of political intrigue focused around Prospero, the banished Duke of Milan, now a wizard living on a remote island. Books in this new, illustrated series present complete texts of Shakespeare's plays. However, the lines are set up so students can see the bard's original poetic phrases printed side-by-side and line-by-line with a modern "translation" on the facing page. Starting in the late 1580s and for several decades that followed, Shakespeare's plays were popular entertainment for London's theatergoers. His Globe Theatre was the equivalent of a Broadway theater in today's New York. The plays have endured, but over the course of 400+ years, the English language has changed in many wayswhich is why today's students often find Shakespeare's idiom difficult to comprehend. Simply Shakespeare offers an excellent solution to their problem. Introducing each play is a general essay covering Shakespeare's life and times. At the beginning of each of the five acts in every play, a two-page spread describes what is about to take place. The story's background is explained, followed by brief descriptions of key people who will appear in the act, details students should watch for as the story unfolds, discussion of the play's historical context, how the play was staged in Shakespeare's day, and explanation of puns and plays on words that occur in characters' dialogues. Identifying icons preceding each of these study points are printed in a second color, then are located again as cross-references in the play's original text. For instance, where words spoken by a person in the play offer insights into his or another character's personality, the "Characters" icon will appear as a cross-reference in both the introductory spread and the play proper. Following each act, a closing spread presents questions and discussion points for use as teachers' aids. Guided by the inspiring format of this fine new series, both teachers and students will come to understand and appreciate the genius of Shakespeare as never before. [via]
The Tempestby Alan DurbandISBN 0748703799 (0-7487-0379-9)
Softcover, Trans-Atlantic Pubns
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Theatrical Notebooks of Samuel Beckett Waiting for Godotby Samuel Beckett, James Knowlson, Douglad McMillanISBN 0802115489 (0-8021-1548-9)
Hardcover, Grove Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Theatrical Notebooks of Samuel Beckett Waiting for Godot'Book summary:A classic of modern theatre and perennial favorite of colleges and high schools. "One of the most noble and moving plays of our generation . . . suffused with tenderness for the whole human perplexity . . . like a sharp stab of beauty and pain".--The London Times. [via]
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A Vindication of the Rights of Womanby Mary WollstonecraftISBN 0760754942 (0-7607-5494-2)
Softcover, Barnes & Noble Books
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Waiting for Godotby Samuel BeckettISBN 0802118216 (0-8021-1821-6)
Hardcover, Grove Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Waiting for Godot'Book summary:From an inauspicious beginning at the tiny Left Bank Theatre de Babylone in 1953, followed by bewilderment by American and British audiences, Waiting for Godot has become one of the most important and enigmatic plays of the past fifty years and a cornerstone of twentieth-century drama. Now in honor of the centenary of Samuel Beckett's birth, Grove Press is publishing a bilingual edition of the play. Originally written in French, Beckett translated the work himself, and in doing so chose to revise and eliminate various passages. With side-by-side text the reader can experience the mastery of Beckett's language and explore the nuances of his creativity.[via]
Upon being asked who Godot is, Samuel Beckett told Alan Schneider, "If I knew, I would have said so in the play." Although we may never know who we are waiting for, in this special edition we can rediscover one of the most magical and beautiful allegories of our time.More editions of Waiting for Godot:
Waiting for Godot: Tragicomedy in 2 Actsby Samuel BecketISBN 0802130348 (0-8021-3034-8)
Softcover, Grove Pr
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Waiting for Godot: Tragicomedy in 2 Acts'Book summary:A seminal work of twentieth-century drama, Waiting for Godot was Samuel Beckett's first professionally produced play. It opened in Paris in 1953 at the tiny Left Bank Theatre de Babylone, and has since become a cornerstone of twentieth-century theater. The story line revolves around two seemingly homeless men waiting for someone-or something-named Godot. Vladimir and Estragon wait near a tree on a barren stretch of road, inhabiting a drama spun from their own consciousness. The result is a comical wordplay of poetry, dreamscapes, and nonsense, which has been interpreted as a somber summation of mankind's inexhaustible search for meaning. Beckett's language pioneered an expressionistic minimalism that captured the existentialism of post-World War II Europe. His play remains one of the most magical and beautiful allegories of our time. [via]
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Waiting for Godot/Coles Notesby BeckettISBN 0774033630 (0-7740-3363-0)
Softcover, Coles Pub Group Ltd
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The Way of All Fleshby Samuel ButlerISBN 0760765855 (0-7607-6585-5)
Softcover, Barnes & Noble Books
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The Wind in the Willowsby Kenneth Grahame, Graham C. Barrett, Don DailyISBN 0762409991 (0-7624-0999-1)
Hardcover, Courage Books
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› Find signed collectible books: 'The Wind in the Willows'Book summary:With a half-turn of the wheel Toad sent the car crashing through the low roadside hedge. One mighty bound, a violent shock, and the wheels of the car were churning up the thick mud of a horse-pond. Toad found himself flying through the air with the delicate curve of a swallow. He liked the motion, and was just beginning to wonder whether he would develop wings when he landed with a thump, in the rich soft grass of a meadow.
This presentation of the well-loved children's story is in every way a classic, but it also retains a wonderful sense of fun.Abridged and illustrated by Inga Moore, this hardback edition could charm any reader with its sheer quality, its thick pages and incredibly beautiful illustrations.
A breathtaking book, and a gift which would be endlessly appreciated. --Rachel Ediss [via]
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- The Wind in the Willows: ISBN 0763622427 (0-7636-2242-7)
Hardcover, Candlewick Press - The Wind in the Willows: ISBN 0766608301 (0-7666-0830-1)
Hardcover, Modern Pub - The Wind in the Willows: ISBN 0744575532 (0-7445-7553-2)
Hardcover, Walker Books - The Wind in the Willows: ISBN 0762405589 (0-7624-0558-9)
Hardcover, Courage Books - The Wind in the Willows: ISBN 0763609803 (0-7636-0980-3)
Hardcover, Candlewick Pr - The Wind in the Willows: ISBN 0762409991 (0-7624-0999-1)
Hardcover, Courage Books
The World's Great ClassicsISBN 0717200019 (0-7172-0001-9)
Hardcover, Xs Books
Find This BookBook summary:Odyssey, The: The World's Great Classics, by Homer; tr. by S.H. Butcher and Andrew Lang [via]
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Harry Potter Et L'ordre Du Phoenix / Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixby J. K. RowlingISBN 0785916725 (0-7859-1672-5)
Softcover, French & European Pubns
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› Find signed collectible books: 'Harry Potter Et L'ordre Du Phoenix / Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'Book summary:Les quatre premiers tomes des aventures du jeune sorcier à lunettes se sont envolés aussi rapidement que le vif d'or dans une partie de quidditch ! Harry Potter et l'Ordre du Phénix ne fera pas exception. La magie en revient encore à la plume vive de Joanne K. Rowling, mais également, cette fois, au tourbillon de difficultés dans lequel est happé Harry adolescent.
Harry vient de passer un autre pénible été chez son oncle et sa tante, sans nouvelles de ses amis ni du monde de la magie. Autrefois admis en héros à l'école des sorciers, il y est accueilli plutôt tièdement en cette cinquième année. C'est que le ministère de la Magie ne veut plus rien entendre des prétendues menaces de mort qui planent sur Harry Potter. Mandée pour effacer le souvenir de Voldemort des couloirs de l'école, une nouvelle enseignante en profite dès lors pour rendre la vie dure à Harry et semer la zizanie parmi les grands et les petits sorciers. Chassé de l'équipe de quidditch et ridiculisé par le ministère de la Magie, Harry doit également combattre les images que parvient à immiscer dans son cerveau Lord Voldemort, bel et bien vivant, et plus menaçant que jamais. Et pour couronner le tout, voilà que Harry se retrouve affligé d'une timidité qui le transforme en poireau devant la belle Cho Chang.
Plaçant son jeune héros dans une position impossible, entre un gouvernement de la magie incompétent et une école impuissante, J. K. Rowling réussit un portrait saisissant de l'adolescence. Harry Potter et l'Ordre du Phénix exprime ainsi cette tragique vérité : chaque être est seul, mais il possède en lui des ressources illimitées... --Julie Sergent [via]
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