What do we mean by 'tragedy' in present-day usage? When we turn on the news, does a report of the latest atrocity have any connection with the masterpieces of Sophocles, Shakespeare and Racine? What has tragedy been made to mean by dramatists, story-tellers, critics, philosophers, politicians and jo[...]

The greatest expression of his talent for witty, observant explorations of what it means to 'live well', Henry James' "The Ambassadors" is edited with an introduction and notes by Adrian Poole in "Penguin Classics". Concerned that her son Chad may have become involved with a woman of dubious reputat[...]