Fifty fiction and non-fiction classics that have defined and shaped our literary history--from the Middle Ages to the present day, spanning from Jane Eyre to Scarlett O'Hara, Hester Prynne to Lily Bart, Anne Frank to Maxine Hong Kingston. Part reference book, part popular culture guide, A Bookshelf of Our Own provides thoughtful analysis of each book, placing it within its historical context and tracing the life and influences of its author; and comprises an invaluable resource for libraries and reading groups, an essential primer for any literary enthusiast, and a provocative look at our past and present.