history and criticism

Analyzes the plays "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," "Fences," "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," and "The Piano Lesson" by African-American writer August Wilson, discussing their depiction of the twentieth-century African-American experience.

Presents biographical, critical, and bibliographical information on Bohemian author Franz Kafka and five of his works, including "The Metamorphosis.".

The members of the rock band U2 chronicle the group's history, describing the band's beginnings in high school, their rise to fame, the making of their albums, aspects of their personal lives, and other topics.

Seventeen essays examine the genre of children's literature, covering the genre's definition, its growth, its common themes, and controversy in the genre; also includes a chronology and a bibliography.

A critical companion to the literature of J. R. R. Tolkien--particularly "The Lord of the Rings," treating it as a cultural and linguistic map, an examination of evil, and a study of myth; also examines "The Hobbit," "Silmarillion," and Tolkien's shorter works.

Christopher Tolkien chronicles his father's creation of the novel "The Lord of the Rings," presenting early drafts and showing how the cast of characters grew after the first stage of writing. Also discusses Tolkien's changing map of Middle-earth, and the runic alphabets.

Describes the evolution of "The Fellowship of the Ring.".

Christopher Tolkien chronicles his father's creation of the classic fantasy novel "The Lord of the Rings" from Sam's rescue in the Tower of Kirith Ungol to the end of the book, presenting early drafts and sketches and versions of the hitherto unpublished epilogue.