Krampus and Saint Nicholas star in "The Fright Before Christmas", a book of criticism that pulls back the mistletoe curtain to reveal myriad winter holiday creatures and traditions that serve serious social functions. Christmas, Yule,... Read More

A nuanced look at fairy tales, including their structures, histories, and interpretations, "Fairy Tales 101" is a sound introduction to the field. "Fairy Tales 101", Jeana Jorgensen’s welcoming literary compendium, illuminates fairy... Read More

Chaucer scholar Marion Turner’s experimental work of literary criticism charts a character’s lasting influence on international culture. A character in Geoffrey Chaucer’s fourteenth-century masterpiece The Canterbury Tales, the... Read More

Anna Beer’s "Eve Bites Back" is a scrupulous study of the complicated creative realities of eight influential but often unheeded women writers. Beer notes that power dynamics of access and discourse make it challenging for women... Read More

Love it or hate it, jacket copy is the first window into any book, singing its praises while also intimating at what’s really between the covers. Louise Wilder’s witty guide "Blurb Your Enthusiasm" is a treat for insiders and... Read More

Robert Cohen’s essays are insightful, entertaining explorations of writers and writing. Probing literature with an expansive view of the craft, the book covers major figures, including John Cheever and Henry James, as well as less... Read More

"When Life Gives You Risk, Make Risk Theatre" is a fascinating analysis of classic dramatic texts. The performing arts study "When Life Gives You Risk, Make Risk Theatre" is Edwin Wong’s original, provocative analysis of one of the... Read More

"Translating Myself and Others" is an academic collection of Jhumpa Lahiri’s musings on language and translation. Lahiri, a reader and writer in multiple languages, focuses on the translation of Italian, with insightful references to... Read More