Literary anthologies are collections of literary works grouped either by author, era or style. They are especially popular amongst students as they offer a sampling of works that can be digested and studied faster than reading the complete works of an author, but are also popular amongst literary aficionados who, like many people, simply do not have the time they would like to devote to reading. Nearly every famous author will have a literary anthology in his or her name. James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Balzac and other classic authors will all be available in anthology form. Certain editions may provide scholarly content as well, while others will simply be portable editions of stories and excerpts. With luck, a literary anthology will inspire a reader to seek out the full texts of an author, or go on for further readings. A second form of literary anthology concerns an era or style. Romantic poets, 19th century Japanese literature, or Elizabethan playwrights may be anthologized as a way to introduce readers to the works. These volumes will most likely contain an introduction by a professor, scholar, or famous author who can also help a reader understand the works and their context. Literary anthologies provide a wonderful way for a reader to get started with an author, or to peruse familiar works as a reminder. Depending on the scale of the book and the publisher, prices will vary, but literary anthologies are generally considered to be a very good deal in the publishing world given how much content there is. |
