"What does it mean to be strong? Pop culture heroines are strong not just because they fight villiains, but because they deal with the same issues we face in real life--addictions, fears, traumas, and other struggles. And with the help of these characters, fans can find inspiration to overcomr their own problems and be brave. In this book, Andrea Towers outlines some of the primary traits heroic women can rely upon, like resilience, self-acceptance,...

In this visionary book, Murray takes an audacious new look at black music and, in the process, succeeds in changing the way one reads literature. Murray's subject is the previously unacknowledged kinship between fiction and the blues. Both, he argues, are virtuoso performances that impart information, wisdom, and moral guidance to their audiences; both place a high value on improvisation; and both fiction and the blues create a delicate balance between...

A cultural history of Wonder Woman traces the character's creation and enduring popularity, drawing on interviews and archival research to reveal the pivotal role of feminism in shaping her seven-decade story. Examines the life of Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston and his polyamorous relationship with wife Elizabeth Holloway and mistress Olive Byrne, both of whom inspired and influenced the comic book character's creation and development. "Wonder...

What is it in Homer's Odyssey that has so enthralled readers from around the world for thousands of years? By joining Professor Vandiver for these 12 lectures on the Odyssey , you'll find out why. This literary exploration centers on a single provocative question about the epic poem's protagonist, Odysseus: Why does he long so powerfully to go home? To probe the depths of this question, you'll embark on meticulous, insightful examinations of the

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"Reflections on a lost poem and its rediscovery by contemporary poets. Gilgamesh is the most ancient long poem known to exist. It is also the newest classic in the canon of world literature. Lost for centuries to the sands of the Middle East but found again in the 1850s, it tells the story of a great king, his heroism, and his eventual defeat. It is a story of monsters, gods, and cataclysms, and of intimate friendship and love. Acclaimed literary...

"Heroes, adventure, history and trouble - discover it all through the eyes and pen of Louis L'Amour.At the time of his death in 1988, all of Louis L'Amour's 100 novels and short-story collections remained in print, a testament to the popularity of a prolific writer best known for his fast-paced tales of the American West. The Wild West of Louis L'Amour is a richly illustrated, sumptuous book commemorating one of America's most beloved and successful...

All great stories can change our lives, and practically none is more transformational than Homer's The Odyssey, which had a power so great that it launched Greek civilization and has influenced the West ever since. In this fresh approach to self-realization, human potentials leader Jean Houston provides empowering experiential exercises at every key stage of Homer's epic to make The Odyssey our own journey. As we set sail with Odysseus, together we...

Explores the character of Katniss Everdeen, including her creation by author Suzanne Collins, her journey in the Hunger Games books and movies, and more.

Explores the character of Hermione Granger, including her creation by author J.K. Rowling, her journey in the Harry Potter series of books and movies, and more.

These essays focus on the relationship between "heroic self- image" and action in five tragic heroes: Brutus, MacBeth, Othello, Coriolznus, and Antony.