First published 2019
Richard Abcarian presents a comprehensive collection of literary works that examine the core tensions of human existence. This anthology brings together contemporary and classic authors from diverse cultures and time periods, organizing their works around fundamental human experiences. Students encounter selections that explore innocence versus experience, conformity versus rebellion, questions of cultural identity, the dynamics of love and hate, and reflections on mortality. The collection spans four genres, offering fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction that illuminate shared human struggles and connections. Each thematic section allows flexible teaching approaches while expert guidance helps engage reluctant readers. Four genre-specific casebooks demonstrate how literature functions as argument, supported by reading questions that encourage students to develop their own interpretive positions. The anthology costs significantly less than competing collections while delivering substantial content across cultures and centuries.
Genres: fiction, literature, literary-fiction, anthologies, contemporary, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-exploration, found-family
Period: Thirteenth Edition
1344 pages · Paperback · Bedford/St. Martin's