Soul of the age: the life, mind and world of William Shakespeare by Jonathan Bate gives an insight of the extraordinary, colourful and often violent world that shaped Shakespeare’s thinking. Little known facts about his life add mystique to a writer who produced such a large volume of work. Why was he the only dramatist not to be imprisoned? How did Bottom’s dream rewrite the bible? How did his play lead to the death of an Earl? The answers are in this book.

Many people write a book but why do some become published authors and others don’t? Comprised of 20 letters, The Maeve Binchy writers’ club offers advice and tips with focus on what editors and publishers are looking for.

Simply memorizing or blindly accepting information has the potential to lead to the wrong answers and can impact on day-to-day decisions. Asking the right questions: a guide to critical thinking by M. Neil Browne and Stuart M. Keeley teaches how to think critically, how to spot fallacies and avoid being manipulated. If something seems to good to be true, it probably is!

Read these books and others about poetry, what would happen if Aristotle ran Hogwarts and free speech in this month’s Literature Recent Picks.

If speaking in public is stressful, then this is the book to read. Your voice is your calling card: how to power-charge your voice, boost your confidence and speak with joy, ease and conviction by Suzann Rye acknowledges the difficulties many have when called upon to present, perform or debate. Looking at ways of overcoming nerves and stage fright, along with other practical advice will lead to confident speaking in any situation.

Featuring women’s poetry from 1900 through to the present, Women’s work: modern women poets writing in English has a selection incorporating aspects of women’s lives including work, children, God and lust!  This title includes work from authors as diverse as Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath and Carol Ann Duffy.

New Zealander David Haywood’s unusual title My first stabbing is described as a collection of “strange meanderings”. Reviews of the book have said it is biting, very funny and written by one of the best new writers to have come on the scene for a while.

Enjoy these books and others covering television reviews, spiritual writings, Keats and Kurt Vonnegut in this month’s Literature Recent Picks.

Sloane Crosley’s essays I was told there’d be cake sold over 75, 000 copies and was on the New York Times bestseller list for 4 weeks. Aspects of her life, the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly are covered in 15 short essays written with humour and honesty. Read about her exploits and why she was expecting cake!

Arthur Conan Doyle created one of  literature’s greatest characters, the brilliant but flawed Sherlock Holmes. With unprecedented access to Conan Doyle’s personal papers and correspondence, biographer Russell Miller has written a comprehensive portrait. The adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle : a biography shows that his life was no less fascinating than his fiction.

This poignant collection by poets killed in World War 1 combines with colour plates and sketches to give insight into the experiences that inspired their poetry: – editor Brian Busby of In Flanders fields : and other poems of the First World War has chosen a variety of  poems relating both to war and the personal sadness of being away from home.

Read more about these books or others by New Zealand authors via the Literature Recent Picks.

Claire Harman’s study of Jane Austen is entitled In Jane’s fame : how Jane Austen conquered the world. Considering that Wellington City Libraries has 104 titles by Jane Austen in over ten formats including a number of languages, this seems a reasonable statement. The book covers her early life, her struggle to become published and her determination to succeed. The latest Jane Austen incarnation, “Pride and prejudice and zombies : the classic Regency romance – now with ultraviolet zombie mayhem“ has been published recently. What would Jane think of it? – with amusement hopefully .

Leaving formal education with an E in history hasn’t stopped Karl Pilkington giving his unique take on museums, galleries and other places of cultural interest. Karlologoy : what I’ve learnt so far is the result.

More than 250 women writers are introduced by author Elaine Showalter in her book  A jury of her peers : American women writers from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Proulx. It spans 400 years and includes household names and those less well recognised. Enjoy learning more about your favourite authors and introduce yourself to new ones.

Read these books and others including the lives of Margaret Atwood, Emily Dickinson and Seamus Heaphy via this months Recent Literature Picks.

Have you always been fascinated by the twists and turns of Discworld, the imaginary dimension Terry Pratchett has been diverting us with for the last twenty-five years? if so, you will enjoy reading The folklore of discworld, a book that discloses the secrets of the saga and unveils the mysteries of this unique fantasy world. The world of literature is dense to say the least and if you feel lost and need guidance, look no further than 501 great writers. This book will present you with the most talented writers of all time and the most fascinating works that exist. Are you a fan of comedic science-fiction? Then, do not miss The Science of The hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy: you will get to know more about the background of the book. And if you want to learn about Susan Sontag’s journals and notebooks, how to write non-fiction, and how to get published, check out this month’s Literature Recent Picks.

Our literature selection can teach you many things this month, like how to be funny, creative, or how to publish children’s books. Poetry written by women is also featured this month, as well as the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson. And if poetry is not your cup of tea, there are two books in our selection which compile newspapers’ columns which will give you a taste of America and New Zealand. But, Uncommon arrangements : seven portraits of married life in London literary circles, 1910-1939 is probably one of the most interesting books this month for anyone interested in the private lives of some of the most famous XXth century British authors. Learn more about these titles in this month’s Literature Recent Picks.

We have new literature books on Narnia, Margaret Atwood, Victorian literature and Maoriland (NZ literature 1872-1914). Edward Said’s ‘On late style’ examines the work late in the lives of great artists like Beckett, Beethoven, Gould and Visconti. In ‘Lost for words’, Hugh Lunn has collected mid-century Australian lingo such as Are you straight? – Who do you think you are, King Farouk? – He’s all mouth and trousers – I’d know his hide in a tannery – It’s snowing down south.

Our May Literature Recent Picks include James K. Baxter poetry, ‘Journalistas’ about women journalists and The literature student’s survival kit. Barbara Wallraff’s Word fugitives : in pursuit of wanted words is a pleasure for everyone who enjoys her hilarious Atlantic Monthly column in which readers coin new words.