A fascinating look at four of the most spectacular cities in human history-and why they were all abandoned.

"This is the best Norton Critical Edition yet! All my students are becoming intensely interested in reading Conrad-largely because of this excellent work."-Elise F. Knapp, Western Connecticut State University

The definitive history of Western Music.

A New York Times bestseller: "This terrific new book . . . [explores] the 'notion of whiteness,' an idea as dangerous as it is seductive."-Boston Globe

"Donald Dickson's John Donne's Poetry is the best text of Donne now available. It is scrupulously edited, and equally useful for students and for scholars."-Harold Bloom, Yale University

A biography of one of America's most popular and misunderstood authors, John Steinbeck.

This master class in writing children's and young adult novels will teach you everything you need to know to write and publish a great book.