Art

From Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita to Raven Leilani's Luster, the texts in this collection investigate themes related to the power and promise of many types of art — from the written word to visual arts such as painting and cinema.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

by James Joyce

Publication year 1916

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Coming of Age, Religion & Spirituality, Art, Language

Tags Classic Fiction, Coming of Age, Life-Inspired Fiction, Irish Literature, Modernism, Education, Education, World History

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man is the 1916 debut novel by Irish author James Joyce. The novel tells the story of Stephen Dedalus, a thinly-veiled alter ego for Joyce, who embarks on a journey of artistic awakening. As a landmark novel in the history of literary modernism, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man has been hailed as one of the most important works of the 20th century and... Read A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Summary

A Room with a View

by E. M. Forster

Publication year 1908

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Social Class, Truth & Lies, Femininity, Self Discovery, Marriage, Art

Tags British Literature, Italian Literature, World History, Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Satirical Literature, Edwardian Era

A Room with a View is a 1908 historical fiction/romance novel by British author E. M. Forster. The novel is split between Italy and England, telling the story of Lucy Honeychurch, a young and spirited middle-class Englishwoman who embarks on a journey of self-discovery during a trip to Italy. During her travels, Lucy falls in love with the free-spirited and unconventional George Emerson, a fellow tourist, but is later forced to choose between her heart's... Read A Room with a View Summary

As A Man Thinketh

by James Allen

Publication year 1902

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Fear, Joy, Love, Mental Health, Future, The Past, Environment, Nature Versus Nurture, Place, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Art, Beauty, Fate, Good & Evil, Literature, New Age, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Truth & Lies

Tags Self-Improvement, Philosophy, Psychology, Religion & Spirituality, Inspirational

... Read As A Man Thinketh Summary

A Single Shard

by Linda Sue Park

Publication year 2001

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Childhood & Youth, Family, Art, Beauty, Fear

Tags Historical Fiction, Children`s Literature, Asian Literature, Realistic Fiction, Arts & Culture, Asian History, Poverty, American Literature, Education, Education, World History

A Single Shard (2001) is an award-winning, middle-grade historical novel by Korean American author Linda Sue Park. Park has written multiple children’s books, picture books, and volumes of poetry. Some of her better-known titles include A Long Walk to Water (2010), The Thirty-Nine Clues series in nine volumes (2010), and Prairie Lotus (2020). Much of her historical fiction is based on Korean history.A Single Shard is intended for readers in grades 5 to 7, though... Read A Single Shard Summary

Aspects of the Novel

by E. M. Forster

Publication year 1927

Genre Reference/Text Book, Nonfiction

Themes Art, Literature, Conflict, Language

Tags The Bloomsbury Group, Arts & Culture, Literary Criticism, Classic Fiction

Aspects of the Novel by E.M. Forster is considered a seminal work of literary criticism that demystifies the form of the novel as it was understood in the early 20th century. The book is adapted from a series of informal lectures Forster delivered in 1927 at Trinity College at the University of Cambridge. Forster was an accomplished novelist as well as a critic, known for the novels Howard’s End and Passage to India, among others... Read Aspects of the Novel Summary

A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again

by David Foster Wallace

Publication year 1997

Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction

Themes Apathy, Loneliness, Self Discovery, Community, Education, Nation, Art, Fate, Literature, Power & Greed, Truth & Lies

Tags Humor, Philosophy, Postmodernism, American Literature

A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again is a 1997 essay collection by David Foster Wallace. The seven essays explore 1990s US social issues through subjects such as television, tennis, and (in the most famous essay) a Caribbean cruise. The essays have been referenced many times in popular culture, particularly the title essay, which recounts Wallace’s experiences on a cruise.This guide references the 1998 Abacus edition of the collection.SummaryIn the first essay, “Derivative Sport... Read A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again Summary

Audition

by Katie Kitamura

Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Mental Health, Appearance & Reality, Family, Self Discovery, Art

Tags Psychological Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Literary Fiction, Asian Literature

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A Vision

by William Butler Yeats

Publication year 1925

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Literature, Religion & Spirituality, Self Discovery, Art

Tags Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Irish Literature

... Read A Vision Summary

Awkward

by Svetlana Chmakova

Publication year 2015

Genre Graphic Novel/Book, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Art, Wins & Losses, Science & Technology, Teamwork, Education, Childhood & Youth, Regret

Tags Realistic Fiction, Science & Nature, Education, Children`s Literature, Bullying, Trauma & Abuse, Education, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Awkward Summary

Babette's Feast

by Karen Blixen

Publication year 1958

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Food, War, Religion & Spirituality, Art

Tags Historical Fiction, Relationships, Scandinavian Literature, Food, World History, Classic Fiction

“Babette’s Feast” (1958) is one of the best-known short stories by Danish author Karen Blixen. It was included in her 1958 anthology of short stories, Anecdotes of Destiny, which was published under her pseudonym, Isak Dinesen. Blixen is best known for her literary explorations of spiritual themes and the contradictions of human nature. Both “Babette’s Feast” and Blixen’s memoir Out of Africa (1937) were adapted into Academy Award–winning films.“Babette’s Feast” focuses on themes of physical... Read Babette's Feast Summary

Ballet Shoes

by Noel Streatfeild

Publication year 1936

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Hope, Joy, Childhood & Youth, Future, Family, Siblings, Self Discovery, Community, Economics, Art, Beauty, Fate, Literature, Education, Social Class

Tags Classic Fiction, Children`s Literature, Historical Fiction, British Literature

... Read Ballet Shoes Summary

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

by Dai Sijie, Transl. Ina Rilke

Publication year 2000

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Literature, Memory, Coming of Age, Politics & Government, Art, Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Education, Education, Asian Literature, World History, Classic Fiction, Life-Inspired Fiction, Chinese Literature

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2000) is a short, semi-autobiographical novel by Dai Sijie. The narrative is set during the Chinese Cultural Revolution and follows two teenage boys who are sent to a remote mountain village for re-education. The boys become close with the local tailor’s daughter and uncover a hidden stash of forbidden Western literature. The books introduce them to ideas, emotions, and freedoms they have never known, and awaken in the Little... Read Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Summary