Critical Insights: The Handmaid's Tale

February 1, 2010
Gr 9 Up-Don't have space in the stacks for Gale's "Contemporary Literary Criticism"? Here's a handy modern addition to the genre that will simplify the task of locating material on some of the most frequently assigned titles. Each meticulously referenced volume is devoted to a single classica novel, a memoir, a playor, in the case of Edgar Allan Poe, short stories. The texts introduce the narratives in their historical context, provide a short biography of the author, and offer "The "Paris Review" Perspective" on the works, followed by a series of articles by academics under the headings of "Critical Contexts" or "Critical Readings." Several themes are analyzed in these segments and they include such essays as Samuel Sipe's "Memory and Confession in "Great Expectations""; Gary Richards's thoughts on "Harper Lee and the Destabilization of Heterosexuality"; and Robert C. Evans's ""The Joy Luck Club" After Twenty Years." Curiously, each volume ends with a two-page discussion of the "Paris Review"'s colorful history. Purchase of the volumes allows online access to the print content in its entirety. Students can search the easy-to-navigate database and print out and/or email the desired material, along with a prepared citation. Overall, a fresh take on the classics and an excellent choice."Christina Connolly, Clark University, Worcester, MA"

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