一位备受喜爱的作家为所有年龄段的读者展现了一个生动的文学世界。

萨瑟兰以自己令人无法抗拒的方式介绍伟大的经典作品，用幽默和知识让他带来的礼物变得更有趣：贝奥武夫，莎士比亚，唐吉坷德，浪漫主义者，狄更斯，白鲸，荒原，伍尔夫，1984，以及许多其他文学作品和文学家。萨瑟兰精通于在各种主题——审查制度，叙事技巧，自我出版，品味，创造力和疯狂——之间来回切换，展现了阅读的全部深度和趣味性。对于小读者们，他提供了适当的文学入门，既保证了趣味性又保证了知识性。对于更有经验的读者，他也保证了这两方面。

A much-

loved author brings the world of literature alive for all ages This 'little history' takes on a very big subject: the glorious span of literature from Greek myth to graphic novels, from The Epic of Gilgamesh to Harry Potter. John Sutherland is perfectly suited to the task. He has researched, taught, and written on virtually every area of literature, and his infectious passion for books and reading has defined his own life. Now he guides young readers and the grown-

ups in their lives on an entertaining journey 'through the wardrobe' to a greater awareness of how literature from across the world can transport us and help us to make sense of what it means to be human. Sutherland introduces great classics in his own irresistible way, enlivening his offerings with humor as well as learning: Beowulf, Shakespeare, Don Quixote, the Romantics, Dickens, Moby Dick, The Waste Land, Woolf, 1984, and dozens of others. He adds to these a less-

expected, personal selection of authors and works, including literature usually considered well below 'serious attention' - from the rude jests of Anglo-Saxon runes to The Da Vinci Code. With masterful digressions into various themes - censorship, narrative tricks, self-

publishing, taste, creativity, and madness - Sutherland demonstrates the full depth and intrigue of reading. For younger readers, he offers a proper introduction to literature, promising to interest as much as instruct. For more experienced readers, he promises just the same.