Produced by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone (1986 Best Director - Platoon), The Joy Luck Club tells the epic story of four families whose extraordinary lives are filled with joy and heartbreak, richness and magic. From the war-torn fields of early-century China to the streets of modern-day San Francisco, the hopes, dreams and triumphs of two generations are revealed through the startling events that shaped their lives. Based on the powerful...

Presents vital information on the most-studied short stories at the high school and early-college levels. Each entry contains author biography, plot summary, characters, themes, style, historical context, critical overview, and criticism.

Each volume provides discussions of the literary and historical background of novels from various cultures and time periods. Includes concise synopses of plot, characters and themes, a brief author biography, discussion of the story's cultural and historical significance, and excerpted criticism.