Literary critics have aptly noted that death is arguably the most frequent topic, theme, or occurrence in all of American literature. Naturally, the works of such authors as Charles Brockden Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, Kate Chopin, Shirley Jackson, and Stephen King, among countless others, go to great lengths to support this observation; however, the renowned nineteenth-century American literary giant Herman Melville, most famous as the author of Moby Dick, has been frequently overlooked. In this book, seasoned literary scholar Corey Evan Thompson seeks to remedy this oversight. Death in Herman Melville's Fiction: Melville's "Memento Mori" is the first full-length study to examine the ubiquity and implications of death in Melville's prose fiction. As Thompson shows, death occurs in all of Melville's novels and much of his shorter fiction by various means. Not only is death a frequent occurrence in Melville's fiction, but his characters die regardless of age, health, social status, or moral character. Drawing from his father's death, Melville's fiction provides his readers with the difficult realization that it is the inevitable destination for everyone who is on this journey called life.

In Alistair MacLeod: A Literary Companion, Canadian literary scholar Corey Evan Thompson seeks to offer general readers and advanced students of Canadian literature an introductory overview of the life and writings of the Canadian novelist and short story author Alistair MacLeod. While MacLeod’s profile was not as prolific as other Canadian authors, such as Margaret Atwood or Alice Munro, his writings have left an indelible impression on readers and critics alike. This book offers and encyclopedic account of all of MacLeod’s writings (including publication history and plot synopsis) and vitally important aspects of his life and work.

This reference work covers both Herman Melville's life and writings. It includes a biography and detailed information on his works, on the important themes contained therein, and on the significant people and places in his life. The appendices include suggestions for further reading of both literary and cultural criticism, an essay on Melville's lasting cultural influence, and information on both the fictional ships in his works and the real-life ones on which he sailed.

In early-to-mid nineteenth century America, there were growing debates concerning the acceptability of alcohol and its consumption. Temperance reformers were calling for alcohol to be avoided by America's citizens, and in support of such views America's greatest authors began to write work of temperance fiction, stories that urged American citizens to refrain from imbibing. Although he has yet to be given much credit for writing such works, Herman Melville is no exception. Alcohol in the Works of Herman Melville: ""The Ever-Devilish God of Grog"" is the first full-length analysis of the presence and implications of alcohol and intoxication in Melville's novels, short fiction, and poetry. Throughout his works he urges his readers for a variety of reasons to avoid alcohol. Liquor and intoxication, he consistently illustrates, brings various yet consistently-harsh outcomes.