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This 1866 novel is Dostoevsky's great fictional study of the criminal mind, in the character of the student Raskolnikov, who murders an aged pawnbroker. Initially, Raskolnikov believes that the killing was entirely justified, but as the novel proceeds he becomes tortured by his guilt, and begins to question all his most passionately held beliefs. Eventually, while the wily police inspector Porfiry Petrovich simply waits, Raskolnikov--prompted by Sonia, a prostitute who is devoted to him--breaks down and confesses. Despite its bleak subject matter, the novel holds out the possibility of redemption; it is also an indictment of the social conditions in which the action unfolds.
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In Twain's 1889 satire/fantasy, Hank Morgan, a Hartford factory worker, after a blow to the head, finds himself transported to sixth-century England, where his knowledge of the scientific advances of the 19th century convince Arthur and his knights that he has magical powers. His attempts to introduce advanced technology lead to disaster. Twain's book infuriated his British readers because of the anti-monarchy opinions of its hero; it was true that Twain did have a somewhat vengeful motive for the novel after an article was published by the eminent English poet and critic Matthew Arnold that savaged the memoirs of President Grant, which Twain had published. The novel was also suggested, Twain said, by a dream he had of being a knight errant in armor in the middle ages.
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The first two Discworld books satirized the classic quest novel. In the third humorous installment of the series, Terry Pratchett takes on traditional gender roles in fantasy. A dying wizard leaves his magical staff to a newborn baby--a baby who, as the eighth son of an eighth son, is fated to be a wizard. But the baby, Eskarina Smith, turns out to be a daughter instead, with a very unique magical destiny indeed. EQUAL RITES introduces a fan favorite character who appears in many of the later books, the iron-willed, irascible, (but secretly good-hearted) witch Granny Weatherwax.
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Description not available.
Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005.
For personal use only.
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