Influenced and educated by her parents, Frankenstein’s author, Mary Shelley, grew up in a world of radical artists and writers. Her immortal novel explores various themes of early-19th-century Romanticism. This clip looks at Mary Shelley’s background and major influences on her thinking and writing, giving students of English literature a broader understanding of the nature and significance of this notable work.

Sifting through questions surrounding oppression and terrorism, Spanish essayist and philosopher Fernando Savater has often analyzed religious dogma-studying those who promote it and those who oppose it. This program documents Savater's views on the social and intellectual wellsprings of terrorism and militant fundamentalism, as well as the eternal conflict between science and religion. The author of Ethics for Amador and The Task of the Hero examines...

The stories of R. K. Narayan embody the indescribable charm of learning about a new country by living among the locals. In this interview, Narayan introduces Malgudi, the fictional setting for his novels. Amid images of Mysore-his beloved hometown and model for Malgudi-he shares the details of his life, his approach to writing, and his friendship with Graham Greene. Readings by actor Madhav Sharma underscore the way in which humor is artfully mingled...

Unified by the Portuguese language, the literature of Brazil represents the cultural synthesis of three distinct influences: indigenous peoples, European emigres, and Africans brought to the New World as slaves. This program reflects on those influences as it examines the first five centuries of recorded Brazilian writing. With an overview of ancient folklore and verse, the program highlights connections between Brazilian and Baroque traditions; it...

The protagonist of Don Quixote finds that he has "survived" for centuries after being created by Miguel de Cervantes, and now wants to learn about his origins-how, where, and why his character came into being. In this film Don Quixote and his loyal squire travel throughout Andalusia searching for information about the life of Cervantes, and the personal and historical events that may have influenced his work. Commentary from biographers and historians...

This special production of the play was produced to celebrate the Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s 40th anniversary. Director Richard Monette has set the play in the time of Mussolini, giving added pathos to the senseless hatred between the Montagues and the Capulets. Megan Porter Follows, known worldwide for her starring role in Anne of Green Gables, gives a stellar performance as Juliet. The production is produced and directed by Emmy Award-winner...

Mexico City and Washington, D.C., are the backdrops for this portrait of this major figure on the contemporary Latin American and world literary scenes. Fuentes talks about the influence of Latin American writers on his writing, notably Sor Juana, Ruben Dario, and Pablo Neruda, and of his own experiences growing up in the United States and teaching here. He evaluates his own major works and their place in Latin American literary history.

Bet you thought you’d never find these words in the same sentence: sharks, tuxedoes, and poetry. In this rapid-fire look at narrative poetry, you will. Thankfully, it’s also highly educational! Learn about the ancient origins of narrative poetry, typical elements, and popular forms like ballads, idylls, and epics. Beloved classics including Beowulf, The Man from Snowy River, and Paradise Lost are discussed.

By the 1960s, Latin America's avant-garde movements had matured into a range of literary styles that were firmly entrenched in the cultural landscape. At the same time, there emerged a new and distinctive accent to Latin American literature that was no less authentic than its forebears. This program surveys the artistic phenomenon, manifested most notably in magical realism, that came to be known as the Latin American Boom. Examining the role of journalism...

The 19th century brought tumultuous political change to Central and South America. This program shows how the cultural crucible of the region fused and realigned aesthetic movements considered sacrosanct in Europe-specifically, Romanticism, Realism, and Naturalism. In an eclectic matching game that became typical of Latin American literature, Realist and historical novels existed cheek-and-jowl with Romantic poetry, Romantic novels competed with the...