Literature by Place - Exodus Books

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It's kind of crazy to what extent geography can inform an author's work. Jack London spent most of his life at sea, dog-sledding across Alaska, boxing and generally being an adventurous guy who would put today's REI crowd to shame. Would he have penned some of the greatest American novels otherwise? especially ones concerned primarily with man battling the elements for survival in both a mental and physical sense? Very probably not, which explains why Oscar Wilde didn't write about wolves and crazy ship captains.

No, Oscar Wilde wrote primarily about fops and society people parrying witticisms incessantly. That's not to say his work has no place in a serious consideration of literature—au contraire, The Picture of Dorian Grey is one of the finest novels written in English. It's just more evidence that if you're an author who lives in the Canadian mountains or the clubs of London, your writing will reflect that.

Physical terrain isn't the only consideration. Sartre wrote about people lolling about with no real sense of purpose except to drink wine and smoke cigarettes and look languorous because he lived in France in the 1940s. Friedrich Nietzsche had immense mustaches and espoused a form of nihilism because he was German. The Russians wrote impossibly long novels because they lived in Russia. And Chinua Achebe was almost entirely influenced by his African upbringing.

That's not to say no one can write well about a context they haven't experienced firsthand. I'm pretty sure Robert Heinlein never visited Mars, and even if he did it wasn't as his books describe; the same goes for Bradbury. And no, Roald Dahl was never lost in a delightfully (though at times, terrifyingly) absurd chocolate factory. Yet even with these examples, the authors conveyed essentially the attitudes of the countries they came from—Heinlein and Bradbury from the U.S., Dahl from the U.K.

Our Literature by Place subcategories are admittedly Anglo-centric. North American literature features, well, American literature, and you can be pretty sure British literature reflects the same system; everything else goes in world literature. We have plenty of non-American or -British literature, we just don't have much from any one place besides those two. At any rate, we hope these categories are helpful, and if they guide you toward one book you're looking for (or maybe one you didn't even know existed), they've done their job.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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	All's Well That Ends Well Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Antony and Cleopatra Oxford School Shakespeare by William Shakespeare from Oxford University for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.95
	Antony and Cleopatra Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Simon and Schuster for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther from Revell Publishing for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $8.50 (1 in stock)
	Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther, translated by J. I. Packer and O. R. Robinson from Baker Academics for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $24.99
	Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther, translated by Henry Cole from Canon Press for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $12.95
	Comedy Of Errors Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Complete Poems of Christopher Marlowe by Christopher Marlowe from Dover Publications for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $2.50
	Coriolanus Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Dr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe from Dover Publications for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $4.00
	Elfin Knight Book Two of Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser & Toby Sumpter from Canon Press for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $20.00
	Experiment in Criticism by C. S. Lewis Reissue from Cambridge University Literature Guide/Resource for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $19.99
	Faerie Queene Book 1 by Edmund Spenser, edited with an introduction by Carol V. Kaske from Hackett Publishing Company Allegory/Epic Poetry for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $15.00
	Faerie Queene Book 2 by Edmund Spenser from Hackett Publishing Company Allegory/Epic Poetry for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $14.00
	Faerie Queene Book 3 & 4 by Edmund Spenser from Hackett Publishing Company Allegory/Epic Poetry for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $16.00
	Faerie Queene Book 5 by Edmund Spenser from Hackett Publishing Company Allegory/Epic Poetry for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $14.00
	Faerie Queene Book 6 by Edmund Spenser from Hackett Publishing Company Allegory/Epic Poetry for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $14.00
	Faerie Queene Books 1-6 by Edmund Spenser from Hackett Publishing Company Allegory/Epic Poetry for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $68.40
	Fierce Wars and Faithful Loves Book One of Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queene by Roy Maynard & Edmund Spenser from Canon Press Allegory/Epic Poetry for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $20.00 $9.00 (5 in stock)
	First Voyage to America From the Log of the "Santa Maria" by Christopher Columbus from Dover Publications Historical Primary Sources for 10th-Adult in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP) $9.95
	Four Voyages by Christopher Columbus from Penguin Classics Historical Primary Sources for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $17.00
	Foxe's Book of Martyrs Updated up to the 21st Century by John Foxe from Bridge-Logos for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $18.99
	Hamlet by William Shakespeare from Oxford University for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.95
	Hamlet Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th grade-adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Henry IV, Part 1 Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Henry IV, Part 2 Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Henry V Oxford School Shakespeare by William Shakespeare & Roma Gill, editor from Oxford University Historical Drama for 7th-10th grade in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN)
	Henry V Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press Historical Drama for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Henry VI Part 1 Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press Historical Drama for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Henry VI Part 2 Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press Historical Drama for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Henry VI Part 3 Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press Historical Drama for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Henry VIII Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press Historical Drama for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Institutes of Christian Religion (abridged) by John Calvin from Baker Books for 10th-12th grade in Reformed Theology (Location: XTH-REF) $24.00 $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Institutes of the Christian Religion 2 volume set by John Calvin, translated by Ford Lewis Battles, edited by John McNeill from Westminster John Knox Press Theology for 11th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $90.00
	Institutes of the Christian Religion Volume 1 by John Calvin, translated by Henry Beveridge Revised from Canon Press for Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $16.95
	Institutes of the Christian Religion Volume 2 by John Calvin, translated by Henry Beveridge Revised from Canon Press for Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $16.95
	Institutes of the Christian Religion Volume 4 by John Calvin, translated by Henry Beveridge Revised from Canon Press for Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $16.95
	Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe from Dover Publications for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $2.00
	Julius Caesar Oxford School Shakespeare by William Shakespeare & Roma Gill, editor from Oxford University Historical Tragedy for 7th-10th grade in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.95
	Julius Caesar (No Fear Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare Study Guide ed. from Sparknotes for 9th-12th grade in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	King John Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	King Lear Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	King Richard III Cambridge School Shakespeare Series by William Shakespeare from Cambridge University Historical Drama for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	King Richard III Cambridge School Shakespeare Series by William Shakespeare from Cambridge University Historical Drama for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $13.00
	Love's Labor's Lost Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Macbeth Oxford School Shakespeare by William Shakespeare & Roma Gill, editor from Oxford University Historical Tragedy for 7th-10th grade in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.95
	Macbeth Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Simon and Schuster for 9th-12th grade in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Macbeth (No Fear Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare from Sparknotes for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN)
	Measure for Measure Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare from Dover Publications for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $3.00 $1.00 (9 in stock)
	Merchant of Venice Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Simon and Schuster for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Merry Wives of Windsor Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Simon and Schuster for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Midsummer Night's Dream Oxford School Shakespeare by William Shakespeare & Roma Gill, editor from Oxford University Comedy for 7th-10th grade in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.95
	Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare from Dover Publications for 10th grade-adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $1.50 $1.00 (3 in stock)
	Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare 1^st edition from Barron's for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Midsummer Night's Dream Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press Drama for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Much Ado About Nothing Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Simon and Schuster for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	On Christian Liberty by Martin Luther from Fortress Press Religion for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $11.99
	Othello by William Shakespeare from Oxford University for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.95
	Othello Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Pericles Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Praise of Folly Dover Thrift Editions by Desiderius Erasmus from Penguin Classics Religious Satire for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $15.00
	Prince, The Penguin Classics by Niccolò Machiavelli from Penguin Classics Political Philosophy for 11th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $8.00
	Prince, The by Niccolò Machiavelli (translation by Harvey C. Mansfield) from University of Chicago Political Philosophy for 11th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Richard II Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Richard III Cambridge School Shakespeare Series by William Shakespeare from Dover Publications Historical Drama for 9th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $4.00
	Richard III Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare Updated from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare from Oxford University Tragedy for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.95
	Shakespeare's Sonnets Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Tamburlaine by Christopher Marlowe from Dover Publications for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $2.00
	Taming of the Shrew Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Tempest by William Shakespeare from Dover Publications for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $3.00
	Tempest Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Timon of Athens Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Titus Andronicus Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 11th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Troilus and Cressida The Pelican Shakespeare by William Shakespeare from Penguin Putnam for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.00
	Troilus and Cressida Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 11th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Troilus and Cressida The Pelican Shakespeare by William Shakespeare from Penguin Putnam for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $10.00
	Twelfth Night or, What You Will by William Shakespeare from Barron's Comedy for 8th-12th grade in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $6.99 $4.50 (3 in stock)
	Twelfth Night or, What You Will Oxford School Shakespeare by William Shakespeare, edited by Roma Gill from Oxford University Comedy for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.95
	Twelfth Night Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Simon and Schuster for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Two Gentlemen of Verona Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Two Noble Kinsmen Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Washington Square Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99
	Utopia Penguin Classics by Thomas More from Penguin Classics Utopian/Dystopian literature for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $12.00
	Utopia by Thomas More 3^rd edition from W. W. Norton and Co. for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN)
	Warrior Princess Book III of Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser, edited and annotated by Roy Maynard from Canon Press for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $20.00
	Winter's Tale Folger Shakespeare Library by William Shakespeare from Simon and Schuster for 10th-Adult in Renaissance & Reformation Literature (Location: LIT3-REN) $9.99

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