As a convenient source of wide-ranging critical opinion on early literature, this series contains excerpts from criticism through the ages on the works of philosophers, poets and playwrights, political leaders, scientists, mathematicians and writers from other genres. Students writing a term paper on an author, work, topic, theme or idea -- or anyone wanting to become better acquainted with the classics -- will find this series a helpful first resource. Approximately 90-95% of critical essays are full text. Entries feature: Introduction including biography and textual history, Bibliographies of the writers works, Criticism, Suggested sources for further reading, and Author, topic, nationality and title indexes.