In the 24 lectures of Rise of the Novel, take a journey from the birth of the novel to the height of the form in the mid-nineteenth century, and better understand what this literary form can tell about human nature and the unquenchable thirst for great stories. With Professor Emeritus Leo Damrosch of Harvard University as the guide, dive into some of the most notable works that helped create and shape the novel over the course of more than three centuries....

In considering the greatest of these films over time, Mr. Kimmel explains why When Harry Met Sally (1989) was called the greatest movie Woody Allen never made. Or how off-screen relationships helped My Man Godfrey (William Powell and Carole Lombard were divorced but remained friends) but interfered with Sabrina (where Audrey Hepburn was carrying on an off-screen affair with co-star William Holden, though her character was supposed to be falling in...

Provides an A-to-Z almanac and encyclopedia of Christopher Paolini's world of Alagas͡ia, the magical land of the Inheritance cycle, discussing mysterious people, objects, and places.

Traces the history of Western comics and discusses the contributions made by comic strips and comic books to the mythology of the West.

"Northern Ireland is one hundred years old. Northern Ireland does not exist. Both of these statements are true. It just depends on who you ask. How do you write about a place like this? THE STRANGERS' HOUSE asks this question of the region's greatest writers, living and dead. What have they made of Northern Ireland - and what has Northern Ireland made of them? Northern Ireland is roughly the same size as the State of Connecticut, yet has produced...

"A Child's Introduction to Jazz explores the rich history of jazz music, including profiles of famous musicians like Louis Armstrong and Billie Holliday. Written by A Child's Introduction to African American History author Jabari Asim, the book includes downloadable links throughout, to allow kids to listen along to the instruments and musical flair of jazz"--

"Irish crime fiction, long present on international Best Seller lists, has been knocking on the door of the academy for a decade. With a varied mix of Irish Studies scholars providing comprehensive analyses on essential Irish detective series, "Guilt Rules All" establishes once and for all that this genre has arrived"--

"Embark on a musical journey around the world to meet the diverse cast of composers, musicians, and performers who are famous for making the music we love. From Johann Sebastian Bach to Billie Eilish, Hildegard of Bingen to DJ Kool Herc, Wolfgang Mozart to Miriam Makeba, musicians come from many different times and places and introduce music from a wide variety of genres"--