A handy size and an affordable price. This collection is briefer than other compact introductory literature anthologies, and only
about half their price.
A well-balanced, chronological selection of literature. Includes a well-chosen array of 40 stories, ranging from classics by Hawthorne and Poe to contemporary tales by writers such as Alice Walker and Tim O'Brien to fresh works by such authors as Ha Jin and Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche; a judicious and varied selection of 200 poems, not only many classic and frequently assigned poems but also the most diverse selection of contemporary American poetry in an anthology of this scope; and a teaching canon of 9 plays — classic works and classroom favorites from Sophocles to August Wilson.
Thorough but unobtrusive editorial apparatus at the back of the book includes biographical notes on every author, a glossary of literary terms, and a section on reading and writing about literature, which clearly and concisely explains how to think critically, read analytically, and write a variety of commonly assigned papers about literature, from summaries to research papers.