Common Knowledge: A Reader's Guide to Literary Allusions - Hardcover

Grote, David

 
9780313257575: Common Knowledge: A Reader's Guide to Literary Allusions

Inhaltsangabe

An aptly titled book that presents, from a staggering range of fields (e.g., mythology, religion, literature, history), names that `reasonably well-educated persons might be expected to know.' . . . Included are figures who are common subjects or who have made their way into catch phrases or character types (e.g., Lothario). A good source for home or public libraries.'

Choice

In his introduction, compiler Grote apologizes `to the Dickensians, the Janeites, the Proustians, the Holmesians, and the Shakesperians' for the brevity of his entries, sure to disappoint these die-hard fans of a single author. He need not, however, apologize to the general readers for whom his book is intended as a source for learning the significance of more than 4,000 names they might encounter. They are the names of historical persons, biblical personages, and mythical and literary characters. The entries are brief but adequately explain the person's origins in fact or literature. Wilson Library Bulletin

This guide to common literary allusions is designed as a companion volume for the general reader. Grote has assembled the fundamental names in mythology, literature, religion, history, and popular culture as a reference for understanding their use in most general literature. The names included are those most likely to be encountered by the general reader, such as melancholy as Hamlet, or Phoenix-like. The entries are drawn primarily from literature, the Bible, and Greek and Roman mythology; a number of historical figures and names of significant historical events have also been included.

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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Since he organized his own theater company in Wichita Falls, Texas, at age eighteen, David Grote has directed more than 150 productions. He headed an independent student company at the University of Texas and later taught and directed theater programs in high schools in Bakersfield, California before moving to Scripps College in Claremont, California.Since the mid-eighties, Grote has been a free-lance director based in San Francisco, but he has continued to work regularly with high school and college student actors in workshops, summer programs, and as a guest artist. He is the artistic director of the Classic Theater Project in San Francisco and has been a regular artist-in-residence at the San Francisco School of the Arts. He is the author of many books and critical studies dealing with a wide variety of subjects concerning theater production. Eleven of his plays have been produced. Grote also has seven one-act published plays which are used in high school competitions nationwide.

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