Who was Absalom? What was Deism? When was the Industrial Revolution? How do you tell a strong rhyme from a weak? And what do you do when panic sets in at the approach of exams? The Literature Student's Survival Kit gives students embarking on a literature degree all the background information they need to stay afloat. It brings together the essential biblical, classical, historical, and academic material in a one-stop reference book that includes: * An overview of the Bible, its books, characters, episodes, and places. * A guide to classical mythology * Timelines that situate literary figures in relation to historical events and key social, cultural, and linguistic changes * Information on individuals, events, movements, and concepts that had an impact on the literature of each period * A glossary of literary terms, with a separate section on poetry * Advice on how to handle essays and exams at university level. Written in a clear and accessible style, The Literature Student's Survival Kit will enable students to approach their studies with confidence.
"What do Shadrach, Meshach, Abdegno and the Private of the Buffshave in common? What are Tabitha or Hecuba for you? When did thePorteous riots begin, when was the hearth tax abandoned?Littlewood's Survival Kit provides all the answers tosimilar vexing questions, queries that students and teachers alikewon't have time to "google" accurately. This isthe best and most up-to-date compendium of essential facts drawnfrom Biblical lore, universal history, literary chronologies, listsof tropes and poetic movements...a desperately needed survival kitfor those who face our current mixture of information overload andshort term memory."
J.M. Rabaté, University of Pennsylvania
"The Literature Student's Survival Kit is a remarkably usefulcollection of information of sure value to many students ofliterature. Written in a measured way, it presents with bothclarity and grace a wide but manageable range ofknowledge--historical, political, cultural, biographical,mythological, theological--that will help open up the textures ofliterary texts, past and present, for readers without thatinformation already at their fingertips. Littlewood's text offersthe kind of knowledge--accessibly laid out, accessiblywritten--that a reader so often needs to know in order to enableinformed and sensitive literary interpretation. A book not onlyvaluable but enjoyable too."
Francis O'Gorman, University of Leeds
"This is exactly the kind of book I wish I'd had as astudent. It introduces and explains the unfamiliar: the Bible,classics, history. A remarkable combination of explanation,encyclopedia, glossary and database--an indispensable vade mecum.It contains fascinating insights as well as useful facts. How can areference work be so readable?"
Laurie Maguire, University of Oxford
"This really is a remarkably useful little book."
Reference Reviews
J.M. Rabaté, University of Pennsylvania
"The Literature Student's Survival Kit is a remarkably usefulcollection of information of sure value to many students ofliterature. Written in a measured way, it presents with bothclarity and grace a wide but manageable range ofknowledge--historical, political, cultural, biographical,mythological, theological--that will help open up the textures ofliterary texts, past and present, for readers without thatinformation already at their fingertips. Littlewood's text offersthe kind of knowledge--accessibly laid out, accessiblywritten--that a reader so often needs to know in order to enableinformed and sensitive literary interpretation. A book not onlyvaluable but enjoyable too."
Francis O'Gorman, University of Leeds
"This is exactly the kind of book I wish I'd had as astudent. It introduces and explains the unfamiliar: the Bible,classics, history. A remarkable combination of explanation,encyclopedia, glossary and database--an indispensable vade mecum.It contains fascinating insights as well as useful facts. How can areference work be so readable?"
Laurie Maguire, University of Oxford
"This really is a remarkably useful little book."
Reference Reviews