Academic events

Wise Fools in Shakespeare by Robert Hillis Goldsmith is a comprehensive study of the role of the fool in the plays of William Shakespeare. The book explores the various ways in which Shakespeare used the character of the fool to convey important messages and themes in his works. Goldsmith examines the different types of fools that appear in Shakespeare's plays, including the comic fool, the wise fool, and the tragic fool. He also analyzes the relationships between the fool and other characters in the plays, and how these interactions contribute to the overall meaning of the work. Through close readings of Shakespeare's plays, Goldsmith demonstrates how the fool serves as a crucial element in the playwright's exploration of human nature, morality, and social hierarchy. The book is an essential resource for scholars and students of Shakespeare, as well as anyone interested in the role of the fool in literature and culture.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original published in 1955 and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations.  

A Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole, is one of the most hilarious and unique novels in contemporary literature—and a favorite of comedian Billy Connolly, who claims: “This is probably my favourite book of all time.”

This sharp and laugh-out-loud story follows Ignatius J. Reilly, an unforgettable character: obese, flatulent, eloquent, and virtually unemployable. As he wanders through 1960s New Orleans, Ignatius battles—with his own mix of disdain and grandiosity—a society he deems decadent and idiotic. His crusade includes rescuing a naked female philosopher, selling hot dogs, and wearing a pirate costume.

The author portrays the city as a place teeming with “gamblers, prostitutes, exhibitionists, anti-Christs, alcoholics, sodomites, drug addicts, fetishists, onanists, pornographers, frauds, floozies, litterbugs, and lesbians… so don’t make the mistake of bothering me,” in Ignatius’s own words.

With a redesigned cover by Gary Taxali, this edition pays tribute to the novel that posthumously won the Pulitzer Prize and has been hailed as a masterpiece of comic fiction:

“I succumbed, stunned and seduced, page after page, vocal with delight. A masterwork of comedy.” – The New York Times

“A fine funny novel. This is the kind of book one wants to keep quoting from.” – Anthony Burgess

A Confederacy of Dunces is much more than a comedy: it is a biting portrait of modern alienation, a celebration of eccentricity, and, in its own peculiar way, a bold defense of radical individuality.