Search

The essay presents literary criticisms of several books including "The Spirit of London," by Boris Johnson, "You Can’t Say That," by Ken Livingstone, and "Ghost Milk: Recent Adventures Among the Future Ruins of London on the Eve of the Olympics," by Iain Sinclair. The city of London, England is a common theme among all of the books discussed in this article.

The article presents a literary criticism of the book "Night. Sleep. Death. The Stars," by Joyce Carol Oates. Topics covered include the novel's submerged patterns, its startling fecundity, its gallimaufry of devices, and its combination of intricacy and lucidity. Also presented is an overview of the story and its characters.

The article discusses the history of the critical reception of author Henry James, focusing on 2012 conferences titled "A Stray Savage in Oxford: A Henry James Centenary Symposium" and "Placing Henry James" in England, and the book "Monopolizing the Master: Henry James and the Politics of Modern Literary Scholarship" by Michael Anesko. Literary scholars such as Christopher Ricks, Philip Horne, and Leon Edel are discussed, as well as poetic elements in James' work.

The article offers literary criticism of works by author John Williams, including his novels "Stoner," "Butcher's Crossing," and "Augustus." Topics include the influence of author Yvor Winters on Williams, a conflict between Winters and Williams related to Williams's role as editor of the anthology "English Renaissance Poetry," and a comparison of "Stoner" to the novel "Herzog," by Saul Bellow.

The article focuses on English author Anna Kavan. Topics discussed include the book "Ice" which was the last book to appear during Kavan's lifetime, Kavan's opioid addiction, extreme weather, female oppression and psychopathology which have become topics in some books, and Kavan's biographers' promotion of the idea of an abrupt and total break in her life and work.

The article presents a brief note on Joseph Conrad, a Polish-British writer regarded as one of the greatest novelists to write in the English language. Conrad engineered a midlife career change of his own from British seaman to English novelist. Conrad’s first voyages had been to the Gulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean.

Letters to the editor are presented in response to articles from previous issues including "It's the New Economy, Stupid," by John Cavanagh and Robin Broad from the December 17, 2012 issue on hydraulic fracking; "Fracking Our Food Supply," by Elizabeth Royte from the December 17, 2012 issue on environmental protection in the U.S.; and "The Master's Servants," by Leo Robson from the November 12, 2012 issue on the author Henry James.