Fourteen essays on epic, oral and literary, from ancient to modern, from the Americas to India.

William Allan's Very Short Introduction provides a concise and lively guide to the major authors, genres, and periods of classical literature. Drawing upon a we

This book focuses on the performance of oral epics and explores the significance of performance features for the interpretation of epic poetry. The leading ques

The series Religion and Society (RS) contributes to the exploration of religions as social systems– both in Western and non-Western societies; in particular,

With the recent release of spectacular blockbuster films from Gladiator to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the epic has once again become a major form in contemp