# data[].attributes.description
Designed for the language student as well as the lover of fine literature, this convenient dual-language book features eleven great short stories  each one appearing in the original Italian, with vivid and accurate English translations on facing pages.Robert A. Hall, Jr., Professor Emeritus of Linguistics and Italian, Cornell University, has compiled a stimulating and representative collection ranging from a 14th-century selection from Boccaccio's The Decameron to Alberto Moravia's "Competition," a 20th-century view of lower-and middle-class Italian life. Among the other works are Machiavelli's "Belfagor; Story of the Devil Who Took a Wife," Matteo Bandello's reflections of 16th-century morals in "Madonna Zilia," Giovanni Verga's objective portrayal of lower-class Sicilian life in "Rosso Malpelo," Gabriele d'Annunzio's revelations of a depraved peasantry in "The Idolaters," Luigi Pirandello's fascinating study of hypocritical social attitudes in "The Tight Frock Coat," as well as equally significant works by Antonio Fogazzaro, Renato Fucini, Aldo Palazzeschi, and Corrado Alvaro. Arranged chronologically so that the growth of the literary art may be followed, as well as enjoyed, each story is prefaced by a concise biographical/critical introduction. Also included are linguistic and cultural notes, a valuable Italian-English vocabulary, study questions on each story, and an informative essay on Italian fiction. Students of the Italian language will find the dual-language format timesaving and extremely helpful; readers of Italian literature will want to add this treasury of small masterworks to their personal libraries.

# data[].attributes.description
Lyric poetry blossomed in 19th-century Germany under the fertilizing influence of Romanticism with its focus on the primacy of the imagination, worship of nature and childhood, dreaminess and nostalgia and preoccupation with thoughts of night and death. Although strictly defined as flourishing from 1798 to 1835, Romanticism is not timebound and German Romantic poetry was written both before and after these dates. Indeed, the 131 poems in this volume range in date from 1770 to 1903.Collected here are great romantic poems by 23 poets: Goethe, Schiller, Hiilderlin, Novalis, Tieck, Brentano, Ruckert, Heine, Miirike, Storm, Nietzsche, and 12 more. Stanley Appelbaum has provided excellent new literal English translations of the poems on facing pages, along with an informative introduction and concise evaluations of each poet. This is a wonderful opportunity for any student of German or lover of poetry to enjoy a rich sampling from one of the worlds great poetic traditions.

# data[].attributes.description
Winner of the 1934 Nobel Prize for literature, Luigi Pirandello (1867 - 1936) is best known for such landmark plays as Six Characters in Search of an Author. One of the great literary figures of the twentieth century, he also distinguished himself in a vast outpouring of short stories, poetry, novels, and essays. The stories often provided the seeds for later novels and plays.The 11 tales included in this collection are among his best. Presented in the original Italian with excellent new English translations on facing pages, they offer students of Italian language and literature a unique learning aid and a treasury of superb fiction by a modern master.The stories range in time from the earliest known tale, "Little Hut," a study of rural passions written in 1884, to "Mrs. Frola and Mr. Ponza, Her Son-in-Law," a quintessential Pirandello story about the relativity of truth and the impossibility of penetrating other people's minds. Published in 1917, it formed the basis of Pirandello's first major play, Right You Are If You Think You Are. In addition to these narratives, the volume also includes "Citrons from Sicily," "With Other Eyes," "A Voice," "The Fly," "The Oil Jar," "It's Not to be Taken Seriously," "Think it Over, Giacomino!," "A Character's Tragedy," and "A Prancing Horse."Accompanying the stories are a biographical and critical introduction to Pirandello and his work, brief introductions to each of the stories and explanatory footnotes.

# data[].attributes.description
Perhaps the most light-hearted of all Chesterton's "serious" works, Manalive pits a group of disillusioned young people against Mr. Innocent Smith, a bubbly, high-spirited gentleman who literally falls into their midst. Accused of murder and denounced for repeatedly marrying his wife and attempting to live in various houses (all of which turn out to be his own), Smith prompts his newfound acquaintances to recognize an important idea: that life is worth living.

# data[].attributes.description
Eight Punjabi tales, five from Armenia, 16 others. An enchanting world of flying dragons, ogres, fairies, and princes transformed into white foxes. 50 illustrations.

# data[].attributes.description
This generously illustrated book of classical myths has become a classic itself, long prized for its simple, graphic, accurate retelling of the principal myths of Greece and Rome, and for its commentary on their origins and significance. The myths, as H. A. Guerber observes in her preface, "have inspired so much of the best thought in English literature that a knowledge of them is often essential to the understanding of what we need."But we have also come to love these stories of Pandora, of Echo and Narcissus, Orpheus and Eurydice, Jason, Hercules, Circe, Helen of Troy, and countless others for their own rich aesthetic qualities, and for their power to stir our imaginations. And today we are learning to look more closely at all mythologies for what they reveal to us of basic human nature and human aspiration.Beginning with myths involving the gods  Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Apollo, Diana, Venus, Mercury, Mars, and others  and ending with the adventures of Ulysses and Aeneas, this rich assembly offers hours of compelling reading and abundant insight into one of the fundamental mythologies underlying Western culture. Sixty-four illustrations by such masters as Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Rubens, Canova, and Bernini add further classic touches to this time-honored work, which also includes an invaluable genealogical table and a map showing the location of the myths.

# data[].attributes.description
It is almost impossible to envision what childhood would be like without the enchanting world of fairyland. The goat-faced girl, Prunella, the three sons of Hali, giants and dwarfs, monsters and magicians, fairies and ogresthese are the companions who thrill boys and girls of all lands and all times, as Andrew Lang's phenomenally successful collections of stories have proved. From the day that they were first printed, Lang's fairy tale books of many colors have entertained thousands of youngsters, as they have also brought pleasure to the parents who have read these classics to their children. The Grey Fairy Book includes many strange, exotic stories from Lithuania, Africa, Germany, Greece and France. But they are all told in the common language of the fairy tale, and their events will be familiar to children and grown-ups alike. The donkey who turns into a price, a spinning wheel that turns moss into silk, revengeful fairies, and ogre-like fathers of lovely daughters strike responsive chords in readers, even when they appear in new circumstances.All in all, this collection contains 35 stories, all narrated in the lively, clear prose for which Lang was famous. Not only are Lang's generally conceded to be the best English versions of standard stories, his collections are the richest and widest in range. His position as one of England's foremost folklorists as well as his first-rate literary abilities make his collections unmatchable in the English language.

# data[].attributes.description
Probably the most delightful, useful, and comprehensive elementary book available for learning spoken and written French, either with or without a teacher. Working on the principle that a person learns more quickly by example then by rule, Lemaitre has assembled colloquial French conversations on a variety of subjects, as well as grammar, vocabulary, and idiom studies. Index.

# data[].attributes.description
The deities of the ancient world  from the famous denizens of Olympus to anonymous river nymphs and sea monsters  come to life in the pages of this classic guide. Richly readable, informative, and colorful, it is drawn mostly from the great epics of Homer and the works of Apollodoros, an Athenian scholar of the second century B.C. Not only does it define the myths in terms of their influence on Western literature, it also depicts the role of the deities in everyday life, from the earliest tribal rites to the grand festivals at the height of Graeco-Roman civilization.Each of the primary and minor gods receives an individual chapter that recounts both the Greek origins and the later Roman adaptation. Profiles of less-familiar figures from the ancient pantheon include the Dioscuri, better known as Castor and Pollux, the patrons of athletes and sailors; Aesculapius, the god of health and healing; Rhea, the mother of the gods; and Pan, the frolicsome woodlands god. No finer survey of classical mythology exists than this instructive and entertaining guide to the gods.

# data[].attributes.description
Beginning students of Italian language and literature will welcome this bilingual anthology edited especially for their needs. Ranging from the fourteenth to the twentieth centuries, it features the works of Dante, Boccaccio, Pirandello, and fifty-two others in both the original Italian and expert English translations on the facing pages. Selections include excerpts from poetry, fiction, history, and philosophy.This is a "first reader" in the sense of its introduction to Italian literature from the 1300s to the 1920s. A solid background in Italian grammar is necessary for the fullest appreciation of the original text. The excerpts are unadulterated, not retold or simplified. Readers can sample the works of men renowned for other talents, such as Michelangelo and Galileo, and discover the original language of The Decameron, The Prince, and even Pinocchio. This self-contained anthology can be used with or without an instructor. It will thrill anyone seeking a fast-paced survey of a vital body of literature from one of the world's greatest cultural legacies.

# data[].attributes.description
Here are thirty-one enchanting selections drawn from Andrew Lang's famous series of colorfully titled fairy tale anthologies. Scholar, poet, novelist, and literary critic, Lang tirelessly collected magical stories from cultures all over the worldstories, according to Lang, that "have been inherited by our earliest civilised ancestors, who really believed that beasts and trees and stones can talk if they choose, and behave kindly or unkindly."The best single-volume collection of Lang's fairy tale classics available, The Rainbow Fairy Book includes "Hansel and Gretel," "Rapunzel," "Jack and the Beanstalk," "The Prince and the Dragon," "Rumpelstiltskin," "The Three Little Pigs," "Snow-White and Rose-Red," and other enduring fables of childhood. Lyrical and timeless, these are the stories that have captured the imaginations of children and adults alike for generations.

# data[].attributes.description
Over the centuries, Northern mythology has exerted much influence on Western customs, language, and literature. Its principal theme of the perpetual struggle of the beneficent forces of nature against the injurious, and its twin characteristics of dark tragedy and grim humor, tinge much European literature and music, most notably Wagners Ring Cycle.In this volume, a noted scholar of myth and folklore has assembled a rich collection of Northern mythology as preserved in the Eddas and sagas of Iceland. These are perhaps the purest versions of the original myths, thanks to the islands remoteness and lack of contact with outside influences. Both grand and tragical, the age-old tales tell of the creation of the world; the heroic deeds of such gods and heroes as Odin, Thor, and Siegfried; the machinations of the evil Loki; the fantastical adventures of giants, dwarfs, and elves; the twilight of the gods; and much else. Sixty-four marvelous, atmospheric illustrations add an additional dimension of charm.In this convenient, reliable edition, Myths of the Norsemen offers not only hours of reading entertainment but also valuable insights into the nature and meaning of myth and how it constitutes part of the deep and ancient wellspring of Western culture.

# data[].attributes.description
In this final sequel to the beloved classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, L. Frank Baum spins a wonderful tale of the exciting experiences of Princess Ozma of Oz and Dorothy in their hazardous journey to the home of the Flatheads and to the magic isle of Skeezers, and how they were rescued from dire peril by the sorcery of Glinda the Good witch.The wicked Queen Coo-ee-oh, a vain and evil witch, was really to blame for all the trouble. She surely succeeded in getting everyone on the magic, glass-doomed island of the Skeezers into amazing difficulties. The exciting story tells how Glinda and the Wizard worked with all their might to save the Princess and Dorothy from the great dangers which threatened them when they went among the warring tribes of the Flatheads and Skeezers.This is the last and one of the best tales about the merry old Land of Oz from author L. Frank Baum. Oz fans young and old will delight in this new, inexpensive edition, enhanced by all the wonderful original illustrations by John R. Neill.

# data[].attributes.description
In the nineteenth century, in the hands of such writers as Heinrich von Kleist and E. T. A. Hoffmann, the short story established itself as one of the most expressive and characteristic genres in German literature. Twentieth-century authors such as Arthur Schnitzler, Thomas Mann, and Franz Kafka continued to deepen and strengthen the tradition. Now five of the finest German short stories  each a well-known pinnacle of the author's art  have been specially chosen for this dual-language edition. Reprinted here in the order of their original publication, the stories are: Heinrich von Kleist's "The Earthquake in Chile," E. T. A. Hoffmann's "The Sandman," Arthur Schnitzler's "Lieutenant Gustl," Thomas Mann's "Tristan," and Franz Kafka's "The Judgment." For each selection, the editor has supplied complete literal English translations on facing pages, along with an introduction to each story and a foreword outlining the evolution of the German short-story genre. Any student of German language or literature will welcome this concise anthology  as a superb language-learning aid and as a repository of great short fiction.

# data[].attributes.description
"If you have a feeling for the mystery and enchantment of the woods, you will want to own this book."  Outlook.Assembled from an enormous range of sources, this fascinating book is a mind-expanding compendium of facts, folklore, superstitions, myths, and anecdotes about trees and the forest. Included are descriptions of old forests; forest customs, temples and sacred groves; mythical forest creatures such as witches, fairies, demons, wood spirits, the "wild huntsman," and wood nymphs.The author also recounts facts and fables about individual trees, including famous trees throughout the world, unusual trees, tree worship, people's transformation into trees, and disposal of the dead in trees  as well as folklore about fossil trees, tree bark, leaves, thorns, diving rods, and Yule logs.This long-unavailable treasury of legend and lore will be welcomed by naturalists, anthropologists, students of folklore, and general readers alike. "A work which the curious will love to consult ... a book which should be in every upper school library, and at the hand of every one to whom reference to such things is important."  Saturday Review.

# data[].attributes.description
Originally published in 1896, this classic of ethnography was assembled by a skilled illustrator who first encountered Maori tattoo art during his military service in New Zealand. Maori tattooing (moko) consists of a complex design of marks, made in ink and incised into the skin, that communicate the bearer's genealogy, tribal affiliation, and spirituality. This well-illustrated volume summarizes all previous accounts of moko and encompasses many of Robley's own observations. He relates how moko first became known to Europeans and discusses the distinctions between men and women's moko, patterns and designs, moko in legend and song, and the practice of mokomokai: the preservation of the heads of Maori ancestors. Features 180 black-and-white illustrations.

# data[].attributes.description
Twenty folk tales representing hundreds of years of the collective Irish imagination transport readers to a world where everything is alive and anything can happen! Vivid descriptions of battles with giants, dead men who come back to life, humans imprisoned in animals' bodies, heroes with incredible strength, and more.

# data[].attributes.subtitle
Folklore, Fairy Tales, Ghost Stories and Legends of the Samurai

# data[].attributes.description
The member of a distinguished British literary family, A. B. Mitford traveled widely with his parents as a youth and lived in various European countries. From 1866-70, he served as an attache with the British legation at Edo (Tokyo)  one of the first foreign diplomats to do so. During his brief stay there, Mitford lived through a period of dramatic and tumultuous change in Japanese history. A feudal nation on his arrival, Japan had entered the era of Westernization before he left some three years later. During that time, however, he quickly and thoroughly mastered the Japanese language and acted as an interpreter between the young Japanese Emperor and British royalty.Mitfords famous collection of classic tales (the first to appear in English) covers an engrossing array of subjects: grisly accounts of revenge, knightly exploits, ghost stories, fairy tales, folklore, a fascinating eyewitness account of a hara-kiri ceremony, gripping narratives of vampires and samurai, Buddhist sermons, and the plots of four Noh plays.A treasury, as well, of information on most aspects of Japanese life, with information on locales, customs, and characters, the illustrated volume delights as it entertains, chronicling acts of heroism, devotion, ruthlessness, and chivalry that illuminate the island nation's culture.One of the first and in many ways still one of the best books on Japan.  The Japanese Times.An excellent introduction to Japanese literature.  Mainichi Daily News.

# data[].attributes.description
"This treasure-chest of mythology will entertain and educate the reader for many hours."  M. G. Paregian. A treasury of tales from ancient myth and legend, this collection was assembled and recounted by a well-known and much-loved storyteller. All of the legendary heroic and tragic figures of the ancient world appear here, in myths derived from Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Hebrew, Hellenic, Latin, Celtic, Nordic, Mesoamerican, and other traditions. Larger-than-life figures populate these stories  Isis and Osiris, Gilgamesh, Hercules and Pandora, Loki, and Quetzalcoatl. Once regarded as sacred lore, their adventures, misfortunes, and rewards form integral and active elements of the cultures from which they arose, and they continue to resonate with a deep human significance.Poet, playwright, and a key figure in the Irish Literary Renaissance, Padraic Colum was a prolific writer. Best known for his adaptations of Celtic tales, and particularly those for younger readers, he also addressed himself to a wider audience. A perfect book to inspire passion for ancient mythology, this volume can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

# data[].attributes.description
The story, or novella, as a literary genre has a much shorter history in Russia than in some Western countries, but it has nevertheless produced important works by some of the greatest names in Russian literature. This dual-language volume contains 12 such stories  memorable tales by Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Chekhov, Gogol, Turgenev, Bunin, and other masters. Each selection is presented here in the original Russian with an excellent literal English translation on the facing pages.Also included are linguistic and cultural notes, a Russian-English vocabulary, study questions and more. In addition, Professor Struve has supplied an enlightening introduction to the Russian short story, as well as concise biographical/critical introductions to each selection. An especially helpful feature for students of Russian is the presence of stress accents in the Russian text, a feature usually found only in primers.