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Contains over forty primary documents that provide insight into the historical context in which Stephen Crane's Civil War novel "The Red Badge of Courage" was written.

Describes the artwork of M. C. Escher, and especially the mathematics behind his interlocking natural forms and continuous patterns, analyzes his notebooks, and includes 438 illustrations.

Traces the process and influences behind the writing of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel, Treasure Island, which was published in 1883 when the horrors of piracy were fresh in the public mind.

Traces the process and influences behind the writing of Stephen Crane's novel, The Red Badge of Courage, which was published in 1893 when the Civil War was still fresh in the public mind.

Traces the process and influences behind the writing of Esther Forbes' novel, Johnny Tremain, for which she won a Newbery Award in 1943--just a year after winning the Pulitzer Prize for her first novel.

A collection of folk tales that inspired seven of William Shakespeare's plays, each with an introduction to the tale's history. Includes two CDs with readings of the folk tales.

Provides a detailed portrait of the former head of the Soviet Union focussing on his rise to power and use of terror to maintain his position.

A guide to reading and understanding William Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" that includes a plot summary, character listing, and explanation of key themes and ideas.

Examines ideas that played a role in the development of cubism and their influence on the art of cubists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, traces the evolution of a unique cubist space, looks at how Picasso's work moved from solid form to independent lines and planes arranged in space, and uses analyses of the formation and development of language as models for understanding the cubist sign.

Provides a literary analysis of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible, " and features a variety of primary historical documents and commentary that offer insight into the context in which the play was written.