Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing, Compact Edition (3rd Edition)

This is an outstanding survey of some of the best writers and best works written. The book's condensed background and critical literary text sections are vastly improved from the previous edition. The model readings and essays are outstanding and illustrative of exactly the kinds of writing approaches necessary to succeed in introductory and advanced collegiate literature study.
Most importantly, this book has great writing that will whet the appetites of serious scholars-in-training, as well as general readers who wish to fill in blanks in their reading backgrounds or explore familiar writers once again. The poetry sections are especially good, as well as the selection of classic and modern plays.
This is both an invaluable book for a literature professor and students, as well as a fun book that curious readers will enjoy exploring time and time again.

I used this book in my class in college.
I throughly enjoyed the poems, stories etc. The writing information was clear and easily understood. I disagree with the reviewer blaming the book for the lower grade. I got an A.

I had to write a review after seeing the only other review for this book. It sounded like some kid who had to take a class he didn't want to and blaimed the book for it. This is a great book. It's super dense, it contains a great deal of analysis of the various components of writing with illustrative examples (short stories) by a wide variety of contemporary and classic authors. This is a great anthology. It contains almost 1,500 pages and contains poetry, plays, and fiction. Also, it contains some biographical information and has a glossary of literary terms. A bargain for the price if you ask me.

I had a class where I had to use this book and I only got a B in the class thanks to this book. This book should be strictly kept in libraries for its lack of educational value. On the bright side the best thing about this book has to be the cover. I didn't read the whole book but as far as I can tell it dosent have anything to do with the content inside the book.