The study of literature is important across subjects and disciplines. Novels, short stories, poems, and nonfiction are essential ways people express themselves and understand the world around them. There are many authors and works that are studied by students, like William Shakespeare or To Kill a Mockingbird. The authors and works represented here are among those most commonly studied and searched for by students. Explore the articles below to read biographies and overviews, learn more about themes and essay topics, and consider criticism and analysis of authors and works.

ALICE WALKER
(1944-)

An African American writer who is best known for her fiction and essays that deal with themes of race and gender. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, she has published volumes of poetry, criticism, and nonfiction.


 

EDGAR ALLAN POE (1809-1849)

Regarded by many scholars as one of the most ground-breaking authors of early nineteenth-century America, critics recognize him for the versatility and the range of his talents across prose and poetry.


 

FRANKENSTEIN
(1818)

Published anonymously in 1818, it is one of the most recognizable and enduring novels in English literature. Initial critical reaction to Frankenstein was often unfavourable, but in the twentieth century critics began to analyze the novel from a variety of new perspectives 

THE GREAT GATSBY (1925)

A classic novel that evokes the ambiance of the jazz-age and the larger questions of fading traditional values in the face of increasing materialism and cynicism. Critics have generally agreed that it the crowning achievement of F. Scott Fitzgerald's (1896-1940) literary career.

HAMLET

Composed circa 1600, it is William Shakespeare's most popular tragedy among critics as well as on stage and screen. The play has been the subject of more scholarly investigation than any work of Western literature. 



 

SHIRLEY JACKSON
(1916-1965)

Author of several best-selling novels, she is known for tackling central themes in her work including ordinary yet grotesque realities as prejudice, psychological malaise, loneliness, and cruelty.



 

TIM O'BRIEN
(1946-)

Widely regarded as a leading figure in contemporary American literature, he is primarily known for recounting his experience in the Vietnam war with careful attention to literary details. Many critics consider him the most prominent author within the field of Vietnam War writers.
 

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1960)

Harper Lee's (1926-2016) first novel was published during the Civil Rights movement and was hailed as an exposé of the Southern racist society. It explores themes of heroism and the idea of role models, with Lee stating it was essentially a long love letter to her father, whom she idolized as a man with deeply held moral convictions. 

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This section was originally created by our North America office, so much of the content at launch is focused on U.S. and Canadian perspectives. Check back regularly as we add more International content to this section over the coming months.