Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces: The Western Tradition, Vol. 1: Literature of Western Culture Through the Renaissance

by Sarah N. Lawall (Editor), Maynard Mack (Editor)

Offering a splendid collection of literary masterpieces in the best available translations, The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces is a literal library of Western literature in two portable volumes. Most major works, from Homer's Odyssey to Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, are offered complete or in substantial, readable excerpts. New authors and works abound, including pieces by Plautus, Lucian, Ariosto, de Vega, Shakespeare, Joyce, O'Connor, Munro, and Silko, and new sections of Medieval lyrics and tales, Romantic poetry in translation, and Dada-Surrealist poetry. Informative period introductions and author headnotes guide readers through the cultural and historical contexts surrounding the literature.

Genres: Fiction, Literature, Reference, Anthologies, Textbooks, College

2270 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

Reviews

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My one and only problem with this anthology is the translation of Chaucer. I felt it was too "dumbed down" considering that I read a harder translation in high school and was in the process of translating passages in my History of the English Language class. Other then that this is an amazing anthology.

[Emmett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished the Divine Comedy; this edition has some of the cantos cut down into short summaries which made it a lot easier to digest.

[Mohit]

1997

[Morgan Metcalf · Rating 3 out of 5]

one of two books we used our entire sophomore year - it was really well written and organized. just, as a school book for lugging around, it was pretty heavy and bulky.

[Evelyn Bay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Geek in me LOVES this book. I am fascinated with Philosophy, and I enjoyed reading the different perspectives of each person featured.