Books in Modern Critical Views series

In a single, eye-opening volume, Mark Twain, Updated Edition presents complex critical analyses of this author's work. Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, Twain, a novelist, humorist, journalist, and orator, is renowned for his wit, wisdom, and keen social commentary. He is not only one of the most quoted and widely read American authors, but his life and work continue to generate biographical and critical interest today. Bringing together a selection of the best criticism available, Harold Bloom breaks down the intricacies of Twain's work and analyzes the ideas presented in clear, accessible language.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was one of America's most influential thinkers. His essay, Nature is considered to be the founding document for the Transcendentalism movement, and his influence can be seen in the writings of Whitman, Thoreau, Melville, and countless others. A synthesis of the most relevant interpretations of Emerson and his work, this freshly updated edition offers a first-rate study guide on the 19th-century essayist and philosopher at a level of depth that will lend new insight and inspire research.

Homer, author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, is the earliest of Greek authors whose works survived. Both works are supreme models of epic poetry and have asserted a profound influence on the history of Western literature. This volume offers a complete critical portrait of Homer. This title, Homer, part of Chelsea House Publishers’ Modern Critical Views series, examines the major works of Homer through full-length critical essays by expert literary critics. In addition, this title features a short biography on Homer, a chronology of the author’s life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University.