Originally published in the year 1951, the huge popularity of the book has resulted in the book being re-printed several times. Centuries ago, it was proclaimed of the Mahabharata: "What is not in it, is nowhere." But even now, we can use the same words about it. He who knows it not, knows not the heights and depths of the soul; he misses the trials and tragedy and the beauty and grandeur of life. The Mahabharata is not a mere epic; it is a romance telling the tale of heroic men and women, and of some who were divine. It is a whole literature in itself, containing a code of life, a philosophy of social and ethical relations, and speculative thought on human problems that is hard to rival.

"The Fagles translation is destined to be the English Aeneid of the new century." -The Wall Street Journal Robert Fagles's award-winning translations of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey have sold more than a million copies and become classics in their own right. With this modern verse translation of Virgil's Aeneid, Fagles completes the classic triptych at the heart of Western civilization. Retaining all of the gravitas and humanity of the original, yet vibrant and contemporary, this seminal literary achievement of the ancient world is an unsparing portrait of a man caught between love, duty, and fate.

The Taming of the Shrew is a classic Shakespearean play that is popular worldwide. This revised edition by Ann Thompson provides line-by-line commentaries and textual notes, making it an ideal choice for students and enthusiasts wanting to understand the deeper meaning and controversy surrounding the play. The editor's emphasis on the problematic nature of debates about the play and its reception in the twenty-first century is a particularly unique feature that makes this edition highly recommended.

The Ramayana is an epic tale of love, duty, and heroism that has been passed down for generations in Hindu mythology. It provides insight into the rich culture and spiritual beliefs of India and offers timeless wisdom that can still be applied to modern life. Readers who enjoy adventure, romance, and moral teachings would appreciate this classic work.

This book is a great read for those interested in historical fiction and mental health. The novel provides a vivid description of the life of John Clare, a nature poet who ends up in an asylum, struggling to hold on to his identity. The conversations between young Alfred Tennyson and Dr. Matthew Allen add depth and character development to the plot while the description of the forest and its inhabitants provide a stunning contrast to the bleak, isolated world of the asylum.

MAY THE VERSE BE WITH YOU!Return once more to a galaxy far, far away with this sublime retelling of George Lucas's epic Star Wars in the style of the immortal Bard of Avon. The saga of a wise (Jedi) knight and an evil (Sith) lord, of a beautiful princess held captive and a young hero coming of age, Star Wars abounds with all the valor and villainy of Shakespeare's greatest plays. 'Tis a tale told by fretful Droids, full of faithful Wookiees and fearsome Stormtroopers, signifying... pretty much everything.Reimagined in glorious iambic pentameter, William Shakespeare's Star Wars will astound and edify Rebels and Imperials alike. Zounds! This is the book you're looking for.

Make a cup of tea and let yourself feel.Pillow Thoughts is a collection of poetry and prose about heartbreak, love, and raw emotions. It is divided into sections to read when you feel you need them most.

"Diving into the Wreck" is a powerful collection of poems that explore the wreckage of societal constructs and personal experiences, while simultaneously uncovering the hidden treasures within them. Adrienne Rich's distinctive voice and thought-provoking use of language make this collection a must-read for anyone who seeks to explore the complexities of the human experience.

Recommended for those who enjoy classic tragedies with themes of love and conflict. This book is known for its timeless story that still resonates with audiences today, as well as its poetic language, memorable characters, and exploration of the dangers of intense emotion.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is the perfect play for those seeking a lighthearted and whimsical tale of love. Set in an enchanted forest, the plot revolves around the tangled loves of four young Athenians and the mischievous fairy, Puck. With elements of magic and farce, this play is perfect for those who enjoy romantic comedies and a touch of whimsy.

Paperback. Pub Date :2013-12-11 Pages: 3052 Language: English Publisher: WW Norton & Company A best-seller for more than forty years. this is the survey of English literature from the Middle Ages to the twenty-first century. With 274 authors. the Eighth Edition deepens its representation of essential works in all genres. ranging from Seamus Heaneys translation of Beowulf to global twentieth-century classics. Over 75 colour plates and thematic clusters of brief and historically significant texts bring to life the cultural concerns of each period. Concise glosses and annotations. period introductions. biographical headnotes. timelines and selected bibliographies help readers understand and enjoy the rich diversity of English literature.

Rumi's poetry is an enlightening, soulful read that can uplift and inspire anyone who loves or longs for love. The beauty of his words lies in how they express the many facets of love, from its ecstasy to its grief, and how they allow readers to explore various types of love, including divine and friendship. Coleman Barks' renderings brilliantly capture the essence of Rumi’s poetry and make it accessible to contemporary readers. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the mysteries and wonders of love.

Composed during a period of extended bed rest, Gabriele D'Annunzio's Notturno is a moving prose poem in which imagination, experience, and remembrance intertwine. The somber atmosphere of the poem reflects the circumstances of its creation. With his vision threatened and his eyes completely bandaged, D'Annunzio suffered months of near-total blindness and pain-wracked infirmity in 1921, and yet he managed to write on small strips of paper, each wide enough for a single line. When the poet eventually regained his sight, he put together these strips to create the lyrical and innovative Notturno.In Notturno D'Annunzio forges an original prose that merges aspects of formal poetry and autobiographical narrative. He fuses the darkness and penumbra of the present with the immediate past, haunted by war memories, death, and mourning, and also with the more distant past, revolving mainly around his mother and childhood. In this remarkable translation of the work, Stephen Sartarelli preserves the antiquated style of D'Annunzio's poetic prose and the tension of his rich and difficult harmonies, bringing to contemporary readers the full texture and complexity of a creation forged out of darkness.

Sadder than salad.From apples to artichokes, these glittering, fragmented, painterly portraits of food by the avant-garde pioneer Gertrude Stein are redolent of sex, laughter and the joy of everyday life.

Twelfth Night is a great choice for anyone who finds Shakespeare's language intimidating. The modern translation on the right-hand pages is extremely useful for understanding the play's linguistically complex scenes. The commentary and character descriptions also help readers gain a greater appreciation for Shakespeare's works.

Het verhaal van Orestes, de enige bewaarde Griekse toneeltrilogie, toont in een groots lyrisch drama hoe de wet van vergelding plaatsmaakt voor de heerschappij van het recht. Koning Agamemnon, die zijn dochter offerde voor de Trojaanse oorlog, wordt bij zijn triomfantelijke terugkeer door zijn vrouw Klytaimestra vermoord. Hun zoon Orestes doodt zijn moeder om zijn vader te wreken. Door haar wrekende geesten achtervolgd vlucht hij naar Athene, waar een nieuwe rechtbank de keten van de bloedwraak doorbreekt.De Athener Aischylos (525-456 v.Chr.) vocht in 490 mee in de beroemde slag van Marathon. De zeeslag bij Salamis (480) is het onderwerp van Perzen, de oudste van zijn zeven bewaarde tragedies. Twee jaar na de opvoering van Het verhaal van Orestes (458) stierf hij op Sicilië.

This book could be a good read for you if you are seeking an empowering and thought-provoking memoir. Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" takes you on a journey through her childhood and early youth, capturing the struggles and triumphs of a black girl in 1930s America. Her powerful storytelling and vivid descriptions will immerse you in her world, while her resilience and courage will inspire you to overcome any obstacles in your own life. Get ready to be moved and uplifted as you witness her journey of self-discovery and liberation.

This book would be a good read for anyone who is drawn to the enchantment of poetry and the exploration of the human spirit. John Keats's profound insight into the beauty of the world, his ability to transport readers to mystical worlds, and his tragic and poignant life story make this book a compelling and evocative read. Keats's words have a mesmerizing quality that will leave you in awe, and his ability to capture the essence of love, passion, and the power of the human imagination will resonate deeply within you. Get ready to be enchanted by the lyrical and enchanting verses that will linger in your heart long after you've finished reading.

"Broken Verses" is a captivating story of love, loss, and the yearning for closure. The author, Kamila Shamsie, weaves together multiple narratives and timelines to create a tapestry of characters bound by a common thread of grief. With lyrical prose and intricate plot twists, "Broken Verses" keeps the reader engaged till the very end. The exploration of complex relationships, particularly between mother and daughter, is a standout feature of the book. Highly recommended for those who enjoy literary fiction with a touch of mystery.

Global phenomenon and Sunday Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman returns to dazzle, captivate, haunt, and entertain with this third collection of short fiction following Smoke and Mirrors and Fragile Things, which includes a never-before published American Gods story, BLACK DOG.In this new volume, Neil Gaiman pierces the veil of reality to reveal the enigmatic, shadowy world that lies beneath. Trigger Warning includes previously published pieces of short fiction-stories, verse, and a very special Doctor Who story that was written for the fiftieth anniversary of the beloved series in 2013-as well as BLACK DOG, a new tale that revisits the world of American Gods.Trigger Warning is a rich cornucopia of horror and ghosts stories, science fiction and fairy tales, fabulism and poetry that explores the realm of experience and emotion. In Adventure Story-a thematic companion to The Ocean at the End of the Lane-Gaiman ponders death and the way people take their stories with them when they die. His social media experience A Calendar of Tales are short takes inspired by replies to fan tweets about the months of the year-stories of pirates and the March winds, an igloo made of books, and a Mother's Day card that portends disturbances in the universe. Gaiman offers his own ingenious spin on Sherlock Holmes in his award-nominated mystery tale The Case of Death and Honey. And Click-Clack the Rattlebag explains the creaks and clatter we hear when we're all alone in the darkness.A writer whose creative genius is unparalleled, Gaiman entrances with his literary alchemy, transporting us deep into the realm of imagination, where the fantastical becomes real and the everyday incandescent. Trigger Warning engages the mind, stirs the heart, and shakes the soul. Neil Gaiman is one of the most original and popular literary artists of our day.

In this lively comedy of love and money in sixteenth-century Venice, Bassanio wants to impress the wealthy heiress Portia but lacks the necessary funds. He turns to his merchant friend, Antonio, who is forced to borrow from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. When Antonio's business falters, repayment becomes impossible--and by the terms of the loan agreement, Shylock is able to demand a pound of Antonio's flesh. Portia cleverly intervenes, and all ends well (except of course for Shylock).

"God Was Right" is a unique collection of poems and essays that challenges traditional views on love, sex education, and heartbreak. Diana Hamilton's writing is thought-provoking, daring, and absurdly humorous, making this book a great choice for readers looking for a fresh and unconventional take on poetry. If you're someone who enjoys works that push boundaries and make you question your assumptions, this book is definitely for you.

This book provides a powerful and insightful look into the life of a young girl growing up in a society that tries to hold her down because of her race and gender. Maya Angelou's writing is both poetic and honest, making this an inspiring read for anyone who has faced adversity. The book emphasizes the narrator's journey towards acceptance and self-love, and although it deals with difficult topics such as racism and sexual assault, it ultimately emerges as a tale of resilience and triumph.

This is a title in an inexpensive range of classics in the "Penguin Popular Classics" series."There is a tide in the affairs of men,Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune"Following a successful campaign in Spain, Julius Caesar returns to Rome and is offered the crown. Fearing for the Republic, Cassius heads a conspiracy to murder Caesar, enlisting the noble Brutus to his ranks.With Caesar dead, Mark Anthony turns popular opinion against the conspirators, leaving the audience to question the nature of honour, ambition and integrity as depicted in the characters of Caesar and Brutus.This edition of the text contains notes, a glossary, and an introduction.

This 30th Anniversary Special Edition includes 12 extra poems for an even more fantastic experience.Come in... for where the sidewalk ends, Shel Silverstein's world begins.Shel Silverstein, the New York Times bestselling author of The Giving Tree, A Light in the Attic, Falling Up, and Every Thing On It, has created a poetry collection that is outrageously funny and deeply profound. You'll meet a boy who turns into a TV set, and a girl who eats a whale. The Unicorn and the Bloath live there, and so does Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who will not take the garbage out. It is a place where you wash your shadow and plant diamond gardens, a place where shoes fly, sisters are auctioned off, and crocodiles go to the dentist.Shel Silverstein's masterful collection of poems and drawings stretches the bounds of imagination and will be cherished by readers of all ages.

No Fear Shakespeare puts Shakespeare's language side-by-side with a facing-page translation into modern English—the kind of English people actually speak today. ebook (online read) can be found here Renowned as Shakespeare's most boisterous comedy, The Taming of the Shrew is the tale of two young men, the hopeful Lucentio and the worldly Petruchio, and the two sisters they meet in Padua. Lucentio falls in love with Bianca, the apparently ideal younger daughter of the wealthy Baptista Minola. But before they can marry, Bianca's formidable elder sister, Katherine, must be wed. Petruchio, interested only in the huge dowry, arranges to marry Katherine -against her will- and enters into a battle of the sexes that has endured as one of Shakespeare's most enjoyable works.

William Blake's innovations in engraving techniques brought about his brilliant synthesis of visual and poetic art and signaled the beginning of his famous "Illuminated Books," of which the Songs of Innocence was the first and most popular. Unfortunately, Blake's vision is generally known to the world in amputated form: because of the difficulty and expense of reproducing his original conception, most editions of Blake's work offer only the printed text, with no trace of the visual counterpart so essential to his "System."This new, facsimile edition of the Songs of Innocence reproduces Blake's color plates in a fashion which the artist himself would have approved. The 31 plates — printed on facing pages which are the same size of Blake's own first edition — offer one of the more brightly colored versions of this significant volume, no two copies of which are the same. As a special aid to readers, a typographical reprint of the text of poems follows the plates. Such classic "songs" as "The Lamb" and "The Chimney Sweeper" are now accessible to all in the symbiotic union of poem and picture that is crucial to a total understating of Blake's mind and art.

"These authoritative translations consign all other complete collections to the wastebasket."—Robert Brustein, The New Republic"This is it. No qualifications. Go out and buy it everybody."—Kenneth Rexroth, The Nation"The translations deliberately avoid the highly wrought and affectedly poetic; their idiom is contemporary....They have life and speed and suppleness of phrase."— Times Education Supplement"These translations belong to our time. A keen poetic sensibility repeatedly quickens them; and without this inner fire the most academically flawless rendering is dead."—Warren D. Anderson, American Oxonian"The critical commentaries and the versions themselves...are fresh, unpretentious, above all, functional."— Commonweal"Grene is one of the great translators."—Conor Cruise O'Brien, London Sunday Times"Richmond Lattimore is that rara avis in our age, the classical scholar who is at the same time an accomplished poet."—Dudley Fitts, New York Times Book Review

Recommended for lovers of Viking folklore. The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-tongue is a classic Icelandic Saga that features an intense love triangle and a poetic rivalry, with a fatal conclusion. The story is both savage and lyrical and presents unique insights into Viking-age culture. Fans of Norse mythology or historical fiction will appreciate this richly-detailed story.

This book is a treasure trove for literature enthusiasts, offering a collection of Matthew Arnold's timeless poetry and insightful cultural criticism. Arnold, a prominent figure in the Victorian era, skillfully interweaves his poetic genius with astute observations on societal changes and the human condition. Dive into this captivating work to explore the evolution of literature, culture, and society through the eyes of a visionary thinker.