criticism and interpretation

Examines the life and art of Vasily Kandinsky, regarded as one of the principal founders of abstract painting, discussing his original contributions to aesthetic theory, featuring two treatises by the artist, and including reproductions of forty of his major works.

"More so than any politician or philosopher, it is William Shakespeare who can teach us about power. What it is, what it means, how it is gained, used, and lost. From the princes and kings of Henry IV to the scheming senators of Julius Caesar, politics fills his plays: brutal cunning, Machiavellian manipulation, fatal overreach, even the rare possibility of redemption. And it is these enduring narratives that can teach us how power plays out to this day. In The Hollow Crown, military scholar Eliot A. Cohen decodes Shakespeare's understanding of politics as theater, shedding light on how businesses, corporations, and governments work in the modern world. The White House, after all, is a court, with intrigues and rivalries just as Shakespeare described, as is an army, a department of state, or even a university. And, besides their settings, what most of all defines these various dramas are their characters, in all their ambition, cruelty, hope, and humanity. Cohen looks to the inspiring speeches of Henry V to better understand John F. Kennedy, to Richard III's darkness to plumb Adolf Hitler's psychology, and to Prospero from The Tempest for a window into George Washington's graceful abdication of power. Ultimately, through Cohen's incisive gaze, Shakespeare's work becomes a skeleton key into the lives of the leaders who, for good or ill, have made and remade our world"--.

"Honors the career of the star musician, sharing insights into Beyonce's record-setting achievements, her family life, and her activist contributions"--OCLC.

Agatha Christie was not only the most successful author of detective stories the world has ever known, she was also a mystery in herself, giving only the rarest interviews--declining absolutely to become any sort of public figure--and a mystery, too, in the manner in which she achieved her astonishing success. Crime novelist and critic H.R.F. Keating brings together a dozen noted writers from both sides of the Atlantic to throw light on the ever-intriguing Dame Agatha. Some essays analyse Christie's art itself; some explain the reasons for her success--not just the books, but also in film and theatre. Includes essays by Sophie Hannah, H.R.F. Keating, Elizabeth Walter, Julian Symons, Edmund Crispin, Michael Gilbert, Emma Lathen, Colin Watson, Celia Fremlin, Dorothy B. Hughes, J.C. Trewin, Philip Jenkinson, William Weaver, and Christianna Brand.

"In this nonfiction companion to the popular novel Bud, Not Buddy, students will learn about the Great Depression, the real jazz musicians during that era, and other interesting facts about what life was like during this time."--Provided by publisher.

Presents the text of the romantic play in which King Leontes' unwarranted jealousy of his wife sets off a string of tragedies; and includes an overview of the playwright's life, world, and theater; a selection of dramatic criticism;a stage and screen history; and a list of recommended readings.

Presents the text of Shakespeare's tragedy of power and love, and includes an overview of the playwright's life, world, and theater; a selection of dramatic criticism; a stage and screen history; and a list of recommended readings.

"Written by a world-renowned expert, this . . . portrait of the artist examines Michelangelo's unusual beginnings, tracking his meteoric rise to fame and brash, difficult-to-work-with attitude. In addition to . . . photos of Michelangelo's varied works, it includes images of meaningful memorabilia from his life: personal letters, preliminary sketches, sonnets, and even his birth certificate" -- Amazon.

"Written by mortician and forensic expert Carla Valentine, The Science of Murder explores the real-life cases that inspired Agatha Christie and shows how the great mystery writer may have kept up to date with the latest developments in forensic science, from ballistics to blood-splatter analysis. Valentine examines the use of fingerprints, firearms, handwriting, impressions, and toxicology in Christie's novels, before finally revealing the role the dead body itself played in offering vital clues to dastardly crimes"--.

"Examines the distinctive voice and radical themes of Mary Shelley's writing, which broke conventions and stretched nineteenth century literary genres. It explores the context, background, and important ideas contained in Shelley's most famous novel. It also demonstrates the significance of her other writings. This [book] recounts how Shelly, who was named Mary Godwin at the time, began writing Frankenstein in 1816, a period wherein the idea of a woman dreaming up stories of raising the dead was far-fetched. It mentions Shelley's literary career that included several publications of books, short stories, and essays"--Provided by publisher.