The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature

Biographies, poetic compositions, works that are mystical, prophetic, visionary, or meditative: the selections here reflect the developments in medieval piety, particularly in the link between female spirituality and the body. Included are the dramatic visionary writings of Hildegard of Bingen; letters and poems by Hadewijch expressing passionate love for God; and Marguerite Porete’s allegorical poem “The Mirror of Simple Souls,” a dialogue between Love and Soul that was condemned as heretical. Also included are biographies written by male ecclesiastics of women such as Christine the Astonishing, whose extraordinary behavior included being resurrected at her own funeral; revelations received by Bridget of Sweden, the first woman to found a religious order; and excerpts from The Book of Margery Kempe, in which Margery imagines herself as a servant caring for the Virgin Mary in her childhood.

At Last All The Poirot Short Stories In A Single Volume My Name Is Hercule Poirot And I Am Probably The Greatest Detective In The World. The Dapper, Moustache-Twirling Little Belgian With The Egg-Shaped Head, Curious Mannerisms And Inordinate Respect For His Own Little Grey Cells Has Solved Some Of The Most Puzzling Crimes Of The Century. Appearing In Agatha Christie S Very First Novel In 1920 And Her Very Last In 1975, Hercule Poirot Became The Most Celebrated Detective Since Sherlock Holmes, Appearing In 33 Novels, A Play, And These 51 Short Stories. Arranged In Their Original Publication Order, These Short Stories Provide A Feast For Hardened Agatha Christie Addicts As Well As Those Who Have Grown To Love The Detective Through His Many Film And Television Appearances.

Guided by the poet Virgil, Dante plunges to the very depths of Hell and embarks on his arduous journey towards God. Together they descend through the nine circles of the underworld and encounter the tormented souls of the damned – from heretics and pagans to gluttons, criminals and seducers – who tell of their sad fates and predict events still to come in Dante’s life. In this first part of his Divine Comedy, Dante fused satire and humour with intellect and soaring passion to create an immortal Christian allegory of mankind’s search for self-knowledge and spiritual enlightenment.