Keen to learn but short on time? Find out everything you need to know about the life and work of Émile Zola in just 50 minutes with this straightforward and engaging guide!Émile Zola was the leading figure of the 19th-century literary movement of naturalism and remains one of France's best-known and most celebrated authors. With his sweeping 20-novel cycle Les Rougon-Macquart and other novels such as Thérèse Raquin, he provided a meticulous depiction of the society of his time and aimed to study the impact of a range of social, environmental and biological factors on individuals. He also believed in writers' responsibility to effect social change and bring about a better world, and took stances on a range of contemporary issues, notably the Dreyfus affair with his famous open letter J'accuse...!In this book, you will learn about:-The major historical, social and economic developments that influenced Zola's work-The main ideas and principles behind the literary movement of naturalism-Zola's most important works, the reception they met with and their impact on later authorsABOUT 50MINUTES.COM | Art & LiteratureThe Art & Literature series from the 50Minutes collection aims to introduce readers to the figures and movements that have shaped our culture over the centuries. Our guides are written by experts in their field and each feature a full biography, an introduction to the relevant social, political and historical context, and a thorough discussion and analysis of the key works of each artist, writer or movement, making them the ideal starting point for busy readers looking for a quick way to broaden their cultural horizons.
Keen to learn but short on time? Find out everything you need to know about the life and work of Edgar Allan Poe in just 50 minutes with this straightforward and engaging guide!Edgar Allan Poe was one of the most significant and enduring figures of the literary scene in 19th-century America. He was one of the first American authors to attempt to make a living solely by writing, with mixed success, and he was a pioneering influence in the development of a number of modern genres, including horror, fantasy, science fiction and detective fiction. Although he is best known for the Gothic-inspired atmospheres and the darkness that permeated his work, he was also a profoundly rational, methodical writer, who eschewed the tradition of populating fantastic fiction with supernatural creatures in favour of a more psychological brand of horror. This innovative style has been an inspiration for countless writers, poets and artists, cementing Poe's legacy as a key figure in literary history.In this book, you will learn about:-Poe's most famous works, including The Fall of the House of Usher and The Murders in the Rue Morgue-The literary movements and earlier writers who influenced his work and ideas-His personal life, including the misfortune that plagued him and inspired some of his best-known worksABOUT 50MINUTES.COM | Art & LiteratureThe Art & Literature series from the 50Minutes collection aims to introduce readers to the figures and movements that have shaped our culture over the centuries. Our guides are written by experts in their field and each feature a full biography, an introduction to the relevant social, political and historical context, and a thorough discussion and analysis of the key works of each artist, writer or movement, making them the ideal starting point for busy readers looking for a quick way to broaden their cultural horizons.
Keen to learn but short on time? Find out everything you need to know about the life and work of Oscar Wilde in just 50 minutes with this straightforward and engaging guide!Oscar Wilde was one of the best-known writers of the 19th century, with works such as The Picture of Dorian Gray widely recognised as classics. This self-proclaimed Professor of Aesthetics became famous in fashionable London society thanks to his brilliant conversational skills and insightful opinions on art and literature, and found success across a range of genres, including literary criticism, plays and short stories. However, Victorian society was deeply conservative and intolerant in matters of sexuality, and Wilde was imprisoned in 1895 for his relationships with men. He died poor and forgotten three years after his release, but his image has since been restored and he is now celebrated as a key figure of modern literature.In this book, you will learn about:-Wilde's most famous works, including The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest-The literary movements and earlier writers who influenced his work and ideas-His personal life, including his relationships with men, which led to him being cast out of fashionable societyABOUT 50MINUTES.COM | Art & LiteratureThe Art & Literature series from the 50Minutes collection aims to introduce readers to the figures and movements that have shaped our culture over the centuries. Our guides are written by experts in their field and each feature a full biography, an introduction to the relevant social, political and historical context, and a thorough discussion and analysis of the key works of each artist, writer or movement, making them the ideal starting point for busy readers looking for a quick way to broaden their cultural horizons.
