The Main Thing in the History of Literature. Key Works, Themes, Techniques, Genres

This book is an innovative introduction to the history of literature and an acquaintance with the best artistic works created over the past 500 years. It explores 67 key works—from «Alice in Wonderland» to «Crime and Punishment». And it does this through short stories that provide insight into great prose.
The author of the book, Henry Russell, takes the reader on a rapid tour through the history of literature and the history of the novel. He also analyzes how the foundations of novels are structured, how they work, and what techniques, themes, and genre elements they use.
The book will serve as an invaluable companion, an insightful assistant that can suggest what and how to read, and will allow one to view the novel with fresh eyes, perceiving it as a silent, invisible component of our connection with ourselves and the world.