The only reference book of its kind, this is the collection of essays, plot summaries, and critical evaluations that explore 270 of the greatest works of world literature. Written by professors from leading universities, the digest is stylized to afford maximum information in an accessible format, covering masterpieces like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Iliad, Hamlet, and more. For the 204 works that tell a story--novels, plays, poems--each section begins with a description of the principal characters and their relationships to one another, followed by two 1,000-word essays that summarize the plot and discuss the major critical approaches to each masterpiece. The remaining 66 works of prose or verse are explored in 2,000-word essays that identify the primary ideas and literary merits of each in a clear, expository style. Two indexes allow you to quickly locate works by author or title. Hardcover; 957 pages.