history and criticism

Provides background on the life of American author F. Scott Fitzgerald and the influences that shaped his life, features fourteen articles that explore class conflict as portrayed in his novel "The Great Gatsby," and examines issues of social class in the twenty-first century.

Contains biographical and critical information about civil rights activist Malcolm X, features historical and contemporary views on racism as it appears in the autobiography of Malcolm X, and includes a time line and suggestions for further reading.

Presents the history and origin of gospel music tracing its roots to African slaves and its blending with Christian hymns in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and describesthe golden age of gospel as well as contemporary gospel music of the twentieth century.

Presents a brief history of indie rock that focuses on the music and musicians, musical style, the instruments, and on its place in cultural history.

Presents a profile of the history of Latin music and its influences on other genres of music throughout the twentieth century.

Contains twelve articles that define the debate over whether music lyrics should be censored for violence and exploitation.

Presents over sixty essays in which the authors present opinions and defenses of frequently challenged and/or censored books from the period between 1985 and 2000.

Provides an introductory essay in which Harold Bloom contrasts Homer's "Illiad" with the Hebrew Bible, and includes eight additional articles in which various contemporary scholars offer critical perspectives on Homer and his writings.

Presents a comprehensive collection of essays that critically examines epic literature including "The Illiad" and "The Odyssey" by Homer, Dante's "Divine Comedy," Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace," and more.

Examines the ways Broadway musicals throughout the twentieth century incorporated issues challenging American society at the times they were produced.