Reference Reviews

Reference for Students

Literary Themes for Students: Examining Diverse Literature to Understand and Compare. Edited by Ane Marie Hacht. Detroit, Mich.: Thomson Gale, 2006. 2 vols. 682 p. $185.00. ISBN 1-4144-0271-6.

Readers who want an overview of literary works which explore two specific themes, war and peace, and how those themes have been treated in literature across time and culture will find them here. Poetry, plays, short stories, novels and nonfiction addressing these themes are given with the emphasis on war because much less literature is available on peace. The foreword, introduction, and a 3-page literary chronology begin both volumes. Three long overview essays, one each on war and peace in American, British, and world literature, set the stage for the individual works which follow and will be very useful to teachers who wish to introduce the topics. Each entry explains how it relates to the theme of war and peace. The author’s name is given, the title of the work, and the year it was published. A brief overview of the book is followed by the date when it first appeared, any controversies over its publication, and its literary value. The plot summary is given by chapters and themes are broken down by topics. The historical and cultural context, a critical overview, criticism, and sources are given. A sidebar provides the author’s brief biography, and most entries have a black and white photo of the author. Media adaptations are listed, often with a photo from a film. In the case of the Diary of a Young Girl, a photo of the doorway to the Frank hiding place is shown. Volume 2 has sub-theme articles: anti-war protest, heroes and leaders, oppression and genocide, revolution and revolt, survival and recovery, terrorism, Utopia and Utopian ideals, violence and brutality, and women and war. The 9-page section “What Do I Read Next” will be useful to librarians who are often asked that question. Ten pages of “Media Adaptations” will also be of interest. A 27-page glossary is provided. Your literature teachers will be pleased to know you have purchased this for them.