Since 1954, Magill's Literary Annual has evaluated critically 200 major examples of serious literature - whether fiction, poetry, or nonfiction - published during the previous calendar year. Out focus is to cover works that are likely to be of interest to general readers, that reflect publishing trends, that add to the eareers of authors being taught and researched in literature programs, and that will stand the test of time. By filtering the thousands of books published every year down to 200 notable titles, the editors have provided the busy librarian with an excellent reader's advisory tool and patrons with fodder for book discussion groups and a guide for choosing worthwhile reading material. The reviews in the Magill's Literary Annual, 2005, are arranged alphabetically by book title. Each 2,000-word (5-page) article begins with a block of ready-reference information: Full book title, including any subtitle; Author's name, with birth and death years; First published information; Publisher, number of pages, original retail price; Type of work (genre); Time period represented, when pertinent; Locale represented, when pertinent; Capsule description of the work; Principal characters or Principal personages; The text of each original essay review analyzes and presents the focus, intent, and relative success of the author, as well as the makeup and point of view of the work under discussion. To assist the reader further, essays are supplemented by a list of additional Review Sources for further study in a bibliographic format. Every essay includes a sidebar offering a brief biography of the author. Thumbnail photographs of the book covers and the authors are included as available.

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