Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms » (3rd Edition)

Ross Murfin, E. A. Lilly Distinguished Professor of English and former provost at Southern Methodist University, has also taught at the University of Virginia; Yale University; and the University of Miami, where he was the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences until 1996. He is the author of Swinburne, Lawrence, Hardy, and the Burden of Belief (1978); The Poetry of D. H. Lawrence: Texts and Contexts (1983); Sons and Lovers: A Novel of Division and Desire (1987); and Lord Jim: After the Truth (1992); and the editor of Conrad Revisited: Essays for the Eighties (1983). The series editor of Bedford/St. Martins popular Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism, he has also edited two volumes in the series, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness (second edition 1996) and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter (second edition 2006).

Supryia M. Ray is a writer, editor, and English teacher. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Miami, she has assisted Ross Murfin in the research and preparation of more than a dozen volumes in the Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism series and authored "Contextual Documents and Illustrations" for the second edition of The Scarlet Letter. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1998, served as a law clerk on the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals, entered private practice as a litigator, and then performed public-interest environmental advocacy in Washington, D.C. She also served for two years with Literacy AmeriCorps, teaching adult learners a variety of subjects including English, reading, writing, and public speaking. She now divides her time between teaching and writing.

Like its highly praised and widely adopted predecessor, the second edition of The Bedford Glossary presents definitions of more than 700 literary and critical terms for today's student. The second edition features many additional terms, both traditional and recent, with a greater array of examples that make it an even more useful and informative reference than before.

Clear, succinct, and lively definitions of more than 700 terms. The glossary not only presents the most up-to-date definitions of traditionally essential literary terms, but also covers many new terms that reflect changes in the way literature is now being taught. Its definitions of current critical terms are adapted from those in the Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism series, edited by Ross Murfin, which has introduced almost three-quarters of a million students to the literary critical terminology of our time.

Examples drawn from literature and popular culture. In addition to illustrative examples gleaned from canonical and contemporary literature, the glossary uses hundreds of references to the popular culture that students know and enjoy, such as television, movies, music, newspapers, and comic books, to make them understand how "literariness" is embedded in their daily lives.

Designed to be a handy and simple reference. Arranged alphabetically, the entries are extensively cross-referenced. An index of authors and works allows quick access to examples cited in the entries, and an alphabetical list of terms on the end papers provides a quick overview of all the terms defined in the book.

A price attractive to today's students. With a net price significantly lower than that of comparable textbook literary dictionaries, The Bedford Glossary is an inexpensive investment that students will use for years in their literature courses.

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Compact but comprehensive, the dictionary presents current definitions of more than 700 terms<-->illustrated with examples from both canonical literature and contemporary popular culture. The entries adapt and greatly expand materials from the popular Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism series. Extensively cross-referenced and written with unusual verve, they are designed to meet the needs of readers studying literature and criticism today. Distributed by St. Martin's Press. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.