Lorna Piatti-Farnell Knihy

The book critically examines the evolution of the vampire trope in contemporary literature, emphasizing a shift from traditional depictions to a "new vampire" that reflects modern cultural anxieties and desires. Through various theoretical lenses, it analyzes how authors like J.R. Ward and Anne Rice have transformed vampires into complex figures that resonate with current consumer culture. Additionally, it explores the implications of these changes on the broader definition of Gothic literature, highlighting significant aesthetic and conceptual shifts in the genre since 2000.

The book explores the intersection of Food Studies and American literature, focusing on the role of food and eating in fiction from 1980 onward. It highlights how culinary representations reflect contemporary American anxieties surrounding class, gender, race, and national identity. Through critical analysis of key contemporary works, the author reveals themes of nostalgia, disillusionment, and progress, illustrating the shift from local culinary traditions to a globalized consumption culture, ultimately addressing the cultural disintegration of familiar culinary values.

Exploring the multifaceted role of beef in society, this book examines its historical significance and evolving class status, from a staple in everyday meals to a highlight in gourmet cuisine. It addresses the cultural, economic, and ethical implications of beef production, while also considering contemporary concerns like health and environmental impact. Richly illustrated with images from art and culinary traditions, along with diverse recipes, it appeals to both casual cooks and culinary enthusiasts, offering a comprehensive look at beef's place in our world.

Exploring the intersection of food and horror in post-1980 cinema, this critical analysis reveals how ordinary foods are transformed within a Gothic framework, highlighting themes of desire, disgust, and violence. It examines eating as a metaphor for identity and the complexities of consumer culture, addressing socio-political anxieties and the haunting aspects of everyday life. Aimed at scholars and students, the work delves into the multifaceted representations of food in film, shedding light on the psychological and corporeal implications of consumption in a Gothic context.

Few if any books come close to being as beloved—or as ubiquitous—as J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Best-sellers for decades, they became even more popular on the heels of Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning film adaptations. And throughout, fans have not only read the books, they’ve engaged with them, building one of the most active and creative fan communities in the world. This entry in the Fan Phenomena series offers the best look we’ve had yet at the fan culture surrounding The Lord of the Rings. Academically informed, but written for the general reader, the book delves into such topics as the philosophy of the series and its fans, the distinctions between the films’ fans and the books’ fans, the process of adaptation, the role of New Zealand in the translation of words to images (and the resulting Lord of the Rings tourism), and much, much more. Lavishly illustrated, it is guaranteed to appeal to anyone who has ever closed the last page of The Return of the King and wished the journey didn't have to end.

"Banana: A Global History takes us from the agricultural beginnings of the banana in New Guinea to the fruit's almost ubiquitous presence in culinary repertoires around the globe, from the United States to the Caribbean, from regions of Africa to the heart of Southeast Asia. The book gives us an insight into the life of the banana over millennia, focusing on our recent history and its cultural affair with the fruit. The global life of the banana is traced in cultural practices, advertising, commercial schemes and the unmissable icons of popular culture, from nineteenth-century medical manuals to cookbooks, songs, the famous 'banana peel gag' and the well-known Miss Chiquita icon."--Publisher's description.