'A restless shape-shifter from the mysterious Welsh Marches, Heseltine was as elusive in his idiosyncratic writing as in his extraordinary globetrotting life. It is good to have his work briefly pinned down in this groundbreaking collection for closer inspection.' – Professor M.Wynn Thomas Cariad County: a place of anarchy and farce, of the grotesque and the slapstick, of tragedy and violent comedy, where the local hunt is disrupted by a camel-riding hero, where the town hall burns down as the town cheers, a place haunted by grotesque revenants from the First World War. This is the world of Nigel Heseltine's short stories, fantastic fictions which lampoon and lament the slow decline of the once-powerful squires and landowners of mid-Wales, the very Montgomeryshire of which Heseltine (1916-1995) formed a part.
A rollicking, bawdy collection of 50 fairy tales told by 10 storytellers over five days follows the compilation efforts of 17th-century Italian poet Giambattista Basile and traces the experiences of a cursed princess who would win back her betrothed.
The thought of enlisting in the French Foreign Legion held a tantalizing allure for young nineteenth-century American boys in search of adventure. Apart from youthful fantasies few Americans seriously pursued joining the legion. These surprising and extraordinary short stories, written by one young man who did, take us to that time and place. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, James O'Neill enlisted in the legion in 1887, at the age of twenty-seven. In 1890, deployed to Tonquin in French Indochina (more familiar today as Tonkin, Vietnam), O'Neill faced tropical heat, infectious disease, and sudden death. Like his contemporary Stephen Crane, O'Neill's ability to tell an engaging story and his keen sense for telling details provide a unique record of his time in this exotic world. In these thirteen "tales," O'Neill shows -- with surprising subtlety -- that France's efforts to conquer and govern Indochina were foolhardy. Although the only American in his stories is the narrator, it is clear that the tales are aimed at readers in the United States and are intended to caution against the construction of empires abroad. Far from polemical tirades, these are absorbing, unadorned stories -- remarkably contemporary in both style and substance.Charles Royster provides a short biography of O'Neill, who seems to have vanished into obscurity a few years after these stories were first published in 1895. Royster has also unearthed and included two essays O'Neill published in magazines of the time, one a description of a Buddhist temple in Hanoi and the other an appreciation of the Hungarian novelist Maurus Jókai. Whether read for historical value, literary merit, or political insights, Garrison Tales from Tonquin is a true discovery.
The anthology 'Thanksgiving Stories' represents a veritable feast of literary craftsmanship, weaving together the rich tapestries of American culture, tradition, and history through a collection that spans multiple genres and themes. This compendium showcases a wide array of literary styles, from the introspective fiction of George Eliot to the captivating folklore delineated by Andrew Lang, underscoring the depth and diversity of experiences associated with the Thanksgiving holiday. Notably, the collection does not rest on the laurels of any single contributor but rather celebrates the collective excellence and thematic resonance achieved through their combined efforts, making it a significant contribution to the landscape of American literature. The contributing authors and editors, from Harriet Beecher Stowes profound narratives to Lucy Maud Montgomerys enchanting stories, bring forth a mosaic of backgrounds that enrich the anthologys exploration of Thanksgiving. These writers, many of whom were pivotal figures in their respective eras, collectively contribute to a diverse and nuanced portrayal of the holiday, aligning with various historical, cultural, and literary movements. This amalgamation not only serves to reflect the multifaceted nature of Thanksgiving but also accentuates the evolving American identity and social fabric, spotlighting moments of unity, reflection, and celebration. 'Thanksgiving Stories' is an indispensable anthology for readers keen on exploring the breadth and depth of Thanksgiving through a literary lens. Offering a unique vantage point into the holiday's significance across different historical epochs and societal contexts, this collection is a treasure trove of insights, emotions, and narratives. Readers are encouraged to delve into its pages to appreciate the rich blend of voices and styles, fostering a deeper understanding of the heritage and traditions that continue to shape Thanksgiving. Beyond its educational value, the anthology invites readers into a dialogue with the past and present, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in the interplay between history, culture, and literature.
From Court to Forest is a critical and historical study of the beginnings of the modern literary fairy tale. From Court to Forest is a critical and historical study of the beginnings of the modern literary fairy tale. Giambattista Basile's Lo cunto de Ii cunti written in Neapolitan dialect and published in 1634-36, comprises fifty fairy tales and was the first integral collection of literary fairy tales to appear in Western Europe. It contains some of the best known fairy-tales types, such as Sleeping Beauty, Puss in Boots, Cinderella, and others, many in their earliest versions. Although it became a central reference point for subsequent fairy tale writers, such as Perrault and the Grimms, as well as a treasure chest for folklorists,Lo cunto de Ii cunti has had relatively little attention devoted to it by literary scholars. Lo cuntoconstituted a culmination of the erudite interest in popular culture and folk traditions that permeated the Renaissance. But even if Basile drew from the oral tradition, he did not merely transcribe the popular materials he heard and gathered around Naples and in his travels. He transformed them into original tales distinguished by vertiginous rhetorical play, abundant representations of the rituals of everyday life and the popular culture of the time, and a subtext of playful critique of courtly culture and the canonical literary tradition. This work fills a gap in fairy-tale and Italian literary studies through its rediscovery of one of the most important authors of the Italian Baroque and the genre of the literary fairy tale.
