title: The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative (Cambridge Introductions to Literature)
author:  H. Porter Abbott 
description: "Abbott brilliantly zeroes in on the architecture of narrative with an exactness and bent for orderly exposition that utterly redeems his subject....The result is a superb taxonomy of what narrative means today." Chronicle of Higher Education<br /><br />"Directness, accessibility, and coherence distinguish this brief but comprehensive study of narrative. It is very much the 'introduction' its title asserts because Abbott is consistent in his efforts to identify, explain and define. His approach is down-to-earth, even conversational, and yet he integrates terms or references intrinsic to the study of narrative. The plethora of examples and illustrations - both 'classic' and contemporary, drawn from cirtical and theoretical texts, novels, short stories...films and television - is a major strength making narrative concepts clear....Most highly recommended." Choice<br /><br />"Written in an unfailingly lucid style that nonetheless refuses to 'dumb down' the major research questions facing analysts of stories, this book provides an ideal starting-point for readers seeking a synoptic overview of<br /><br />recent scholarship on narrative. More than just a primer for readers unfamiliar with previous research on stories, however, Abbott's book itself represents a significant contribution to the field of narrative studies." David Herman, Symploke<br /><br />"A lucid, practical, wide-ranging, and...original introduction to narrative, which will be useful to undergraduate and graduate courses on literary theory and criticism. This is not a dry textbook, however; the reader is made aware of a real voice and of a fascination with the role of narrative across many cultures and beyond." Derek Attridge
zlib_text: The Cambridge Introduction to 
  Narrative 
  Second edition 
  H. PORTER ABBOTT
  � CAMBRIDGE 
  � UNIVERSITY PRESS 
  
  CAMBRIDGE 
  UNIVERSITY PRESS 
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  © H. Porter Abbott 2008 
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  no reproduction of any part may take place without 
  the written permission of Cambridge University P