This monograph groups studies that deal with intertextual aspects of Conrad's literary art. Intertextual relationships are seen in terms of either affinities/points of contact and the influence of earlier literary works upon his oeuvre, or the influence of Conrad's texts upon literary works by authors following him.

Literary Art in Digital Performance examines electronic works of literary art, a category integrating the visual+textual including interactive poetry, narrative computer games, filmic sculpture and projective art. Each case study/chapter is followed by a 'post-chapter' dialogue between editor and author - providing further entry points for theoretical analysis.

Accounts of the rise of American literature often start in the 1850s with a cluster of "great American novels"—Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, Melville’s Moby-Dick and Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. But these great works did not spring fully formed from the heads of their creators. All three relied on conventions of short fiction built up during the "culture of beginnings," the three decades following the War of 1812 when public figures glorified the American past and called for a patriotic national literature. Decentering the novel as the favored form of early nineteenth-century national literature, Lydia Fash repositions the sketch and the tale at the center of accounts of American literary history, revealing how cultural forces shaped short fiction that was subsequently mined for these celebrated midcentury novels and for the first novel published by an African American. In the shorter works of writers such as Washington Irving, Catharine Sedgwick, Edgar Allan Poe, and Lydia Maria Child, among others, the aesthetic of brevity enabled the beginning idea of a story to take the outsized importance fitted to the culture of beginnings. Fash argues that these short forms, with their ethnic exclusions and narrative innovations, coached readers on how to think about the United States’ past and the nature of narrative time itself. Combining history, print history, and literary criticism, this book treats short fiction as a vital site for debate over what it meant to be American, thereby offering a new account of the birth of a self-consciously national literary tradition.

For the love of Bessie, grab a glass of milk, pull up a comfy chair, and partake of a cow tale or two These 40 stories by farmers and ranchers in the U.S. and Canada will open your eyes to what really goes on in those pastoral scenes with Holsteins, Jerseys, and other cattle breeds. Read about a 101-year-old cowgirl, close calls with bulls, cows and cops, steer roping, cattle branding, herds escaping, and the lovely dairy princesses promoting the healthful dairy industry. Be an armchair traveler with "Miss Lait" (Miss Milk) on her 1954 trip to France, meet a cow called "Grandma," read up on milking cows with baseball players, and see how butter magically turns into the likenesses of princesses. Meet "Patty" and "Paige" - - the Mother's Day cows, follow "Ferdy" the friendly bull, and learn about "Lulu" - - on the loose. "True Cow Tales is a true joy to read. If you have an association with livestock agriculture you will enjoy these short stories and poems. These brought back many memories of growing up on our family farm. True Cow Tales ought to be a part of everyone's family library and should be shared over and over." - Ken Rahjes, Farm Broadcaster for KRVN Radio, Lexington, Nebraska "As the world is further removed from agriculture, it's increasingly important to learn more about your sources of food, fiber and fuel. True Cow Tales is a truly moo-ving tribute to the beef and dairy industries, from the joy of buying your first cow and naming her Patty - yes, Cow Patty - to the wonder of watching a cow nurse an orphaned calf to the sorrow of no longer being able to financially support your farm. This anthology vividly depicts the importance of agriculture through a collection of stories and poems about the lives of farm animals and the dedicated people who care for them." - James Henry, AgriNews Publications Executive Editor "This anthology is an interesting gathering of a wide variety of stories and reminiscences regarding acquaintances and encounters with cattle." - Heather Smith Thomas, rancher and author of Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle (1998); Essential Guide to Calving (2008); Cattle Health Handbook (2009); and more than 9000 stories and articles about cattle and horses. Ever moo to a cow - - or try not to? You may love cows more than you even realized. For a laugh, check out "Cattle Sillies." Need some adventure? Then turn to "Bovine Drama." Favorite cows are the theme of a chapter by that name. For a walk down "memory lane," flip to "Bovine Wistfulness." And for something quite different, enter the world of "Dairy Princesses" and meet the beautiful young women who love cows and spend an entire year of their lives promoting the dairy industry and handing out milk and cheese samples. Cheddar anyone? Follow your "inner moo." Read these stories for old time's sake, or just come along for the ride. And don't forget to drink your milk