Literary Themes

John Milton's Paradise Lost is one of the greatest epic poems in the English language. It tells the story of the Fall of Man, a tale of immense drama and excitement, of rebellion and treachery, of innocence pitted against corruption, in which God and Satan fight a bitter battle for control of mankind's destiny.

You’re Not a Girl in a Movie is a new collection of powerful poems by Hala Alyan, winner of the Arab American Book Award in Poetry and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. In these nine extraordinary poems, Alyan wrestles with the intimate themes that have driven her acclaimed body of work to date: the aching loss of homeland, the image and worth of women, and the violence of love. In Beirut, Brooklyn, and roads in the American West, she unravels the effects of decades of war and displacement on love and human worth and identity.

In the tumult of our contemporary moment, poetry has emerged as an inviting, consoling outlet with a unique power to move and connect us, to inspire fury, tears, joy, laughter, and surprise. This generous anthology pairs fifty illuminating poems with poet and podcast host Pádraig Ó Tuama's appealing, unhurried reflections. With keen insight and warm personal anecdotes, Ó Tuama considers each poem's artistry and explores how its meaning can reach into our own lives.

Inspired by a true story, The Bravest Among Us is Hillbilly Elegy meets Casablanca, the story of three unlikely heroes who come together in a tragic love triangle to bring The American Dream to reality for impoverished children. Aria, a grieving widow and once a teen mother, rises from humble beginnings to become a warrior for social justice. But which man will join her daring journey, the ambitious actor bent on capturing her heart or the wrongfully convicted ex-con sworn to protect her? One will risk everything to help her find hope, while the other will forsake his happiness for the ...

Set in the border states of Kansas and Missouri, Woe to Live On explores the nature of lawlessness and violence, friendship and loyalty, through the eyes of young recruit Jake Roedel. Where he and his fellow First Kansas Irregulars go, no one is safe, no one can be neutral. Roedel grows up fast...

Dive into the captivating world of "Poetry Unleashed" and embark on a transformative journey through the mesmerizing power of words. This enchanting anthology invites readers to experience the raw emotions, evocative imagery, and profound insights found within the artistry of poetry. Within the pages of "Poetry Unleashed," you will discover a diverse collection of poems that explore the depth and breadth of the human experience. From the bittersweet melodies of love and heartbreak to the triumphant verses of resilience and self-discovery, each poem unveils a new facet of our shared humanity...

Unlock the timeless wisdom of William Shakespeare with the definitive collection of his most famous quotes. The Architect of the Soul is your essential guide to understanding the Bard's profound philosophy on life, love, and language. Delve into 125 of Shakespeare's most powerful lines—from the philosophical debate of "To be, or not to be" to the vivid imagery of the "green-eyed monster." Perfect for students, writers, and anyone seeking inspirational literary quotes. Why have these words endured for over 400 years? This book is more than a list of phrases; it is a profound journey ...

This annotated edition of the classic Gothic novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelly includes an historical introduction, an overview, study of the themes present in the book, and a list of famous quotes.

When ten-year-old Anne Waller from Suffolk England wrote to C. S. Lewis in 1961 with a question about The Chronicles of Narnia, she never expected to receive a reply. However, not only did Lewis answer her letter, he also outlined the spiritual themes in each of the Narnia books. That letter served as inspiration for Will Vaus to write The Hidden Story of Narnia.

NEW EDITION! There are many ways that Miss MacIntosh, My Darling by Marguerite Young can be read: A Gothic tale of mystery with a touch of the macabre where no one is who they seem so that by the end of the novel it will need to be read again because the novel will be completely different after learning the truth. A gorgeous love song to poetry and poetic prose. A laundry list of all the literature, poems, music, philosophy, and psychology that Young loved. Young’s personal history of what she found relevant from the Greek and Roman era through the Civil Rights Era. A deep dive into ...

“So often people ask me if there’s a book on story I can recommend. This is the one. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”––Alexa Junge, writer/producer, Friends, Sex and the City, The West Wing A master class of 27 lessons, drawn from 27 diverse narratives, for novelists...

When shots ring out on the Grand Trunk Road, Nargis's life begins to crumble around her. Her husband, Massud - a fellow architect - is caught in the cross fire and dies before she can confess her greatest secret to him. Now under threat from a powerful military intelligence officer, who demands that she pardon her husband's American killer, Nargis fears that the truth about her past will soon be exposed.

A novel of LGBTQ+ urban life, set in Chicago's Little Village, where 28-year-old Troy spends another summer cruising the streets - drawn to handsome, tattooed men who come and go without warning. After his recent year-long relationship with Humberto disappointingly vanished last winter, Troy isn't looking for love this time - just connection, maybe comfort. As he had before Humberto, he drives down the city’s traveled streets, crawls along dark side streets, examines dead-end streets, slips through tented underpasses, drifts down alleys, and walks through parks nearly every night. When he...

Robert Louis Stevenson, Scottish essayist, poet, and author of fiction and travel books, was born in 1850 in Edinburgh, Scotland, as an only son of a prosperous civil engineer. He entered the University of Edinburgh at the age of 17 and studied to be an engineer to follow his father in the family business; however, he soon realized that he was not cut out for that profession. His father agreed to let him study law instead and although Stevenson graduated from the law school, he never practiced law because, by then, he knew he wanted to be a writer.

An English cleric with a classical education, Milton lost his eyesight in 1652, and thus the story was largely dictated by the blind poet, lending a certain quality of the ancient oral epics, which only serves to enhance the telling of the tale. Weaving classical mythology with a deep knowledge and reference to Scripture, Milton's genius for narrative unfolds what his biographer, Samuel Johnson, called his "peculiar power to astonish."

“He who seeks revenge digs two graves.” —Confucius."A page turner from start to finish ... with multiple twists in the story that lead to a powerful confrontation, and dynamic unexpected ending."—Cecilia P. __________________________________________________________________________ The Story (inspired by a true event) Twelve-year-old Chuck Grayson lost his father to what the police called a tragic accident—a fall in jail after his arrest for public drunkenness. But he always believed there was more to the story. Now, decades later, Chuck is suffering from end-stage liver cancer ...

This remarkable poem, dedicated to Queen Elizabeth I, was Spenser's finest achievement: the first epic poem in modern English. The Faerie Queene combines dramatic narratives of chivalrous adventure with exquisite and picturesque episodes of pageantry. At the same time, Spenser is expounding a deeply-felt allegory of the eternal struggle between Truth and Error.

Unique to this title is: A historical introduction and a study of the themes present in A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol and The Chimes. Charles Dickens was an English writer and social critic. He was born in 1812 in Portsmouth. When his father was sent to jail because of unsettled debt, Dickens had to leave school and get a job in a factory. Dickens is believed to be the best novelist of the Victorian era and he became very popular during his lifetime. His novels are still widely read and translated.

One touch. One storm. One heatwave they never saw coming. On the sun-drenched island of Sainte-Margot, solitude was all Daniel Voss came for. A burned-out trauma nurse, he wants silence—not surf lessons, not sunshine, and definitely not the barefoot lifeguard who keeps showing up wherever he goes. But Thierry Batiste is impossible to ignore. Bright, fearless, infuriatingly warm, he crashes through Daniel’s emotional defenses like a wave—slow, relentless, and inevitable. What follows is a slow-burn M/M romance filled with: 🌊 A guarded hero trying to outrun his past 🔥 A bold local...

The story spans 1954 to 1966. During this time, Linda lives in a neighborhood of 100 houses in University City, known as the Gates of Opportunity. She knows the names of all the homeowners. Just about everyone is Jewish. It is easy to feel a connection to her neighbors. They share a common culture and history. Notorious for being the first vegetarian in her neighborhood at age five, Linda becomes a known individualist, quirky. She turns ideas into reality. Her religion taught her to question everything. She admires Louisa May Alcott and plans to be a writer herself despite her mother’s ...