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The concept of democracy is far from new, but this comprehensive volume addresses some of the volatile questions that continue to puzzle even the best of us. Readers will get a survey of the development of this form of government, dating back to its invention in ancient Athens and continuing to the present, following its development with the changing times. Thoughtful questions provoke discussion about its pros and cons, its strengths and weaknesses, and how, even after all these years, this method of governing could be even more effective in the future.

Since ancient times, storytelling has been a valued art form that enables traditions, beliefs, and lessons to be transmitted from one generation to the next. Epics such as Homer's Odyssey and Virgil's Aeneid and tales such as those contained in the collected The Thousand and One Nights offer modern-day readers a glimpse into various countries and cultures, as well as different eras. The individuals and works profiled in this absorbing volume have withstood the test of time, remaining culturally significant and influencing authors and readers alike for centuries.

Technological advances--including pressurized cabins for hot air balloons, rocketry that powers spacecraft, and deep-sea diving gear--have changed the face of exploration. What hasn't changed since ancient times, however, is the bravery and inquisitiveness of intrepid individuals at the forefront of modern-day exploration and adventure. Those who have challenged conventional thinking, and sought to test physical limits of human endurance in the 20th and 21st centuries are the subjects of this exciting collection of biographies.

Contemporary literature encompasses so many genres, literary forms, and themes that it would seem almost impossible to identify a unifying thread between them. Yet in the tradition established by literary heavyweights who came before, modern writers of all stripes and backgrounds have continued to entertain and to confront the social, cultural, and psychological realities of the times--including everything from racial identity to war to technology--with their own flair and insight. The diversity of authors profiled herein--from Toni Morrison to Sylvia Plath to Stephen King to David Foster Wallace--attests to the scope and complexity of modern society.

It is almost impossible to think about Italy without recalling its Renaissance art masterpieces, its spectacular landscapes, or its widely loved cuisine. Although these combined elements hint at a united Italian culture, Italy is truly a country comprised of individual regions, each with their own identities, histories, and traditions. Readers will follow Italy's trajectory from a land of disparate barbarian kingdoms to a republic, discovering along the way the glories of the Medici period, the factors influencing Italy's development into one of the world's most industrialized countries, and the diverse society that makes up its population.

Starting at the dawn of the 20th century, writers began experimenting with literary styles as never before. As perhaps the most far-reaching movement, Modernism swept across both the United States and Europe and has been embodied in the works of such writers as Marcel Proust, Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and T.S. Eliot. The existentialism of Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, Samuel Beckett's absurdist writings, and the range of literary output from around the world also reflect the spirit of the period. The lives and works of these and other authors from across the globe are surveyed in this absorbing volume.

From Romanticism to Realism, the 19th century saw a flourishing of literary movements, as well as the arrival of several now-revered luminaries on the literary scene. Authors experimented with new styles that elevated the novel as a significant literary form, while new techniques and themes were also introduced into poetry and drama. These compelling profiles examine the lives of some of the 19th century's greatest writers--Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Leo Tolstoy, to name just a few--and reveal the remarkable stories behind the works they crafted.

After emerging from the long shadow cast by the Soviet Union, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and neighboring Poland transitioned from communism to market economies and instituted democratic reforms in a remarkably short time. Although each continues to contend with various economic and political issues, their successes have allowed them to become some of the few former Eastern bloc states to join the European Union. The journeys each country has made--from antiquity to the present--and the remarkable peoples and cultures that make their populations are the subjects of this captivating volume.

As Europe's religious, social, economic, and cultural identity began to take more definite shape in the medieval and Renaissance eras, so too did its literary identity. By capturing in ink the spirit of these transformative periods, such literary giants as Geoffrey Chaucer, Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and John Milton laid the foundations for literature, drama, and poetry today. Readers will be introduced to these and other notable figures from around the world whose works have had an equally enduring impact on the global literary canon.

The Nordic region of northern Europe is indelibly linked in the minds of many with the Viking cultures that populated the area eons ago. Yet, as this intricate study of Denmark, Finland, and Sweden attests, there's so much more to the story than that. These nations have emerged from the long shadow of their early days in the Viking era to become vibrant societies with proud traditions, distinct customs, and promising futures. Readers will learn about the land, people, governments, and economies of these fascinating countries, and examine the historical paths each took to achieve the successes they enjoy in the modern age.