Joseph Heller's World War II satire, "Catch-22", poses the moral dilemma of how to remain sane in an insane world. When it was first published in 1961, the novel not only became a modern-day classic, but it also introduced the Catch-22 catchphrase into everyday vernacular. Joseph Heller's "Catch-22,...

Focuses on Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels". This book includes critical essays on the text, discussing topics such as the philosophical background of the work, satire, and more....

J.D. Salinger's powerful fiction and enigmatic persona have captivated readers for more than 50 years. His works include "Nine Stories", "Raise High the Roof Beam", "Carpenters", and "Franny and Zooey", but Salinger's literary reputation rests upon his coming-of-age masterpiece, "The Catcher in the ...

It has been suggested that Hemingway's art has both the virtues and limitations of lyricism - including maximum intensity. This collection of essays examines "A Farewell to Arms"....

Ralph Waldo Emerson was one of America's most influential thinkers and indisputably the central figure of the American Renaissance of the mid-19th century. His essay "Nature" is considered to be the founding document for the transcendentalist movement, and his influence can be seen in the writings o...

Although he spent much of his career in obscurity, Herman Melville, the author of classics such as "Moby-Dick", "Billy Budd", and "Bartleby, the Scrivener," has since become known as one of America's greatest writers. "How to Write about Herman Melville" offers valuable paper-topic suggestions, clea...

William Faulkner is one of America's most highly regarded novelists. His timeless novels and short stories, including "The Sound and the Fury"; "Light in August"; "Go Down, Moses"; "As I Lay Dying"; 'Absalom, Absalom!"; "Barn Burning"; "The Bear"; and, "A Rose for Emily", are unlocked for the reader...