This title provides a unique combination of biography and critical analysis, covering major writers from outside the United States and their significant works in fiction, drama, poetry, and nonfiction. Each essay includes sections on biography, general analysis, and analysis of the author's most important works-novels, short stories, poems, and works of nonfiction. This edition includes new coverage of contemporary authors from around the globe. All essays include Discussion Topics - provocative questions that will prompt classroom debates on the writer's body of work, specific works, or life as it relates to his or her literature. Five helpful features can be found at the end of each volume: a Glossary; a Category List that groups authors by genre, country, gender, and ethnic identity; an Author Index that lists all authors covered in the set along with their works; a Title Index of all works covered in the set; and a Geographical List which groups the authors by country.