Books in the Bright Notes series

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Pearl Buck''s The Good Earth, the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1932. As a novel of the mid-twentieth century, The Good Earth was inspired by Buck''s experience living in China during the Boxer rebellion with her missionary parents. Moreover, the novel shows the author''s intense interest for people through description of the cycle of life. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Buck''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Petronius'' Satyricon, a once hardly-known work that has become one of the most popular and certainly one of the most influential books of our time. As a collection of prose and passages of first-century A.D. Rome, Satyricon continues to inspire avant-garde novelists, film-makers, playwrights, and poets. Moreover, Pentronius provides an early written text that includes literary techniques such as burlesque, epics, romance, and elements of picaresque novels. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Pentronius'' classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Simone de Beauvoir''s The Second Sex, the book that arguably stands as the stepping stone for allother feminists'' work. As a work of post-WWII, The Second Sex stirred up controversary as women in France and America had just earned their right to vote and men who fought on the front returned home to reclaim the jobs that had been filled by women. Moreover, the fight for liberation and equality for women continues to impact politics and philosophy even today. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of de Beauvoir''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Sinclair Lewis''s Babbitt, a novel that contributed to Lewis'' eventual Nobel Prize award. As a satirical novel of the roaring twenties, Babbitt addresses the "American Dream" as was idolized by the middle class in early 20th century America. Moreover, this satirical work points to the attitudes, values, and beliefs of the American middle class living in such a prosperous time, with an emphasis on security and conformity. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Lewis'' classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Stephen Crane''s The Red Badge of Courage, the supreme example of Crane''s war stories. As a novel set during the American Civil War, The Red Badge of Courage is known for realism and naturalism. Moreover, the novel sets itself apart from other war novels as it focuses on the thoughts and experiences of the protagonist, instead of the outside world. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Crane''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Laurence Sterne''s Tristram Shandy, thought to be a trailblazer for other books of its time and inspired by the great novelists: Francois Rabelais, Miguel de Cervantes, Michel de Montaigne, and Robert Burton. As a nine-volume novel of the 18th century, Tristram Shandy was ahead of its time for its use of humor and satire and stories about scandalous and taboo topics. Moreover, the stories included make us consider the limitations of the logic in which we put such trust, the value of theories which remain purely theoretical, and the absurdity of our ideas of time in a world where everything is relative. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Sterne''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Henry Adams'' The Education of Henry Adams, an autobiography from a great-grandson of the second president of the United States John Adams. As an autobiography of the late 19th century, Adams'' book gives readers interesting perspective on educational theory and practice and Aristocracy leading into the turn of the century. Moreover, his life gives a glimpse at the immense weight of tradition in political families, as well as insight into the long-standing question of whether these families will know the values of liberty and choice. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Adams'' classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Theodore Dresier''s Sister Carrie, known by many to be the greatest of the American urban novels. As a novel of the turn of the 20th Century, Sister Carrie moved away from Victorian era values and towards naturalism, realism, and instincts of human thought and behavior. Moreover, this first novel introduces readers to a common theme Dresier addresses: the individual against universal forces. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Dresier''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Thomas Hardy''s Far from the Madding Crowd, the publication attributed with Hardy''s achievement of literary success. As a novel of Victorian England, Far from the Madding Crowd tells the realities of living in the idyllic farming communities of southwest England. Moreover, Hardy is acknowledged for his use of Victorian and modern literary techniques with traditional constructed plots, yet modern psychological development of his characters and reflection of modern problems. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Hardy''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Thomas Hardy''s Jude the Obscure, the last novel written by Hardy before he moved his concentration to poetry. As a satirical novel of the late nineteenth century, the themes of marriage and religion were perceived negatively. When the novel was published, Hardy''s contemporaries reacted bitterly, and a bishop ordered the text to be publicly burned. Moreover, Jude the Obscure is to be considered a tragedy, inspired by the great Greek dramatists, Aristotle and Aeschylus. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Hardy''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Thomas Hardy''s The Mayor of Casterbridge, the most controversial of Hardy''s works as it toes the line between Victorian and modernism literature. As an author who lived to see both literary time settings, Hardy was often criticized during his lifetime for combining elements of realism and fantastic coincidences. Moreover, The Mayor of Casterbrige was Hardy''s attempt at using poetic techniques and psychology to create a more in-depth, psychological story. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Hardy''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Thomas Hardy''s The Return of the Native, arguably the most popular of Hardy''s 14 Wessex novels. As a novel first published in the magazine Belgravia, popular for its sensationalism, Hardy classified The Return of the Native as a "Novel of Character and Environment." Moreover, themes from Hardy''s novels draw interesting conversations around the power of imagination. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Hardy''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Thomas More''s Utopia, originally written in Latin in 1516 and considered a great political and philosophical satire. As a rhetorical work from the early 16th century, there has been much debate amongst scholars on what More''s intentions were for writing. Moreover, Utopia makes a mirror so that readers may be able to see themselves more clearly and more realistically. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of More''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Upton Sinclair''s The Jungle, a novel portraying the harsh conditions and exploitation of immigrants in major US cities in the early twentieth century. As a novel of the turn of the twentieth century, The Jungle reflects not only the American scene of Sinclair''s young manhood but also many of his own life circumstances. It becomes important to view the novel in terms of both his life and his times. Moreover, Sinclair''s journalistic background provided him with the opportunity to expose corruption in business and government. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Sinclair''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Ursula Le Guin''s The Left Hand of Darkness, a book that pioneered the feminist science fiction movement. As a science-fiction, fantasy novel of the mid to late 1900s, The Left Hand of Darkness explores androgyny, tragedy, and love. Moreover, Le Guin''s writing shows that in fantasy, journeys into outer space are often metaphors for journeys inward. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Le Guin''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for Victor Hugo''s Les Misérables, arguably one of the most recognized novels to come from the 19th century and is still studied today. As a novel of both the Romantic and Realism literary movements, Les Misérables captures the history of France through the lens of political chaos, liberty, and individualism. Moreover, Hugo is considered to have dominated French literature during the entire 19th century. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Hugo''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.

A comprehensive study guide offering in-depth explanation, essay, and test prep for W Somerset Maugham''s Of Human Bondage, agreed to be Maugham''s most noted and most important work. As a bildungsroman of the early 20th century, Of Human Bondage is Maugham''s strongly autobiographical story of the evolution of a young man through the storm and stress of youth. Moreover, Maugham writing is an example of finding serenity despite haunting and imperfect pasts. This Bright Notes Study Guide explores the context and history of Maugham''s classic work, helping students to thoroughly explore the reasons it has stood the literary test of time. Each Bright Notes Study Guide contains:- Introductions to the Author and the Work- Character Summaries- Plot Guides- Section and Chapter Overviews- Test Essay and Study Q&AsThe Bright Notes Study Guide series offers an in-depth tour of more than 275 classic works of literature, exploring characters, critical commentary, historical background, plots, and themes. This set of study guides encourages readers to dig deeper in their understanding by including essay questions and answers as well as topics for further research.