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Order Options	List Price	Online Price	Save	Login for Quick Checkout
Delivery: To home, business or free to our stores. Click for more info.	£17.99	£12.59	30%	Despatched in 1 business day.	Add to Basket
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Product Synopsis

Breathtaking in its scope and originality, "Seven Basic Plots" examines the basis of story telling in literature, film, and libretto. No one will ever see stories in the same way again. This remarkable and monumental book at last provides a comprehensive answer to the age-old riddle of whether there are only a small number of 'basic stories' in the world. Using a wealth of examples, from ancient myths and folk tales via the plays and novels of great literature to the popular movies and TV soap operas of today, it shows that there are seven archetypal themes which recur throughout every kind of storytelling. But this is only the prelude to an investigation into how and why we are 'programmed' to imagine stories in these ways, and how they relate to the inmost patterns of human psychology. Drawing on a vast array of examples, from Proust to detective stories, from the Marquis de Sade to E.T., Christopher Booker then leads us through the extraordinary changes in the nature of storytelling over the past 200 years, and why so many stories have 'lost the plot' by losing touch with their underlying archetypal purpose. Booker analyses why evolution has given us the need to tell stories and illustrates how storytelling has provided a uniquely revealing mirror to mankind's psychological development over the past 5000 years. This seminal book opens up in an entirely new way our understanding of the real purpose storytelling plays in our lives, and will be a talking point for years to come.

Essays & Writing >> Literary Criticism >> Literary studies: generalLanguage Learning >> General Learning & Reference >> Listening skillsLanguage Learning >> Linguistics Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Publication Date: 09/01/2006 ISBN-13: 9780826480378 Details: Type: Paperback Format: Books

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All delivery times quoted are the average, and cannot be guaranteed. These should be added to the availability message time, to determine when the goods will arrive. During checkout we will give you a cumulative estimated date for delivery.

Location	1st Book	Each additional book	Average Delivery Time
UK Second Class	Available free for orders over £10* or £2.50	Available free for orders over £10* or £1.00	3-7 Days
UK First Class	£4.50	£1.00	1-2 Days
UK Courier	£7.00	£1.00	1-2 Days
Western Europe** Courier	£17.00	£3.00	2-3 Days
Western Europe** Airmail	£5.00	£1.50	4-14 Days
USA / Canada Courier	£20.00	£3.00	2-4 Days
USA / Canada Airmail	£7.00	£3.00	4-14 Days
Rest of World Courier	£22.50	£3.00	3-6 Days
Rest of World Airmail	£8.00	£3.00	7-21 Days

* Available free for orders over £10 = When offered a delivery preference choose 'For Cheapest Postage' for our freepost in the UK offer. This is not available on the 'For Faster Delivery' option.

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Condition	Seller	Postage	Price
Very Good Sellers Comments: The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.	worldofbooks Available Qty: 1 United Kingdom	From United Kingdom £2.95 3-10 business days	£8.29 Earns 33 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £11.24 Add to Basket
Good Sellers Comments: EXCELLENT value for money and ready for dispatch. Delivery usually within 3/5 days. Our reputation is built on our Speedy Delivery Service and our Customer Service Team.	The Perfect Used Book Store Available Qty: 1 United Kingdom	From United Kingdom £2.95 3-10 business days	£9.82 Earns 39 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £12.77 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: Despatched in 1 business day.	Foyles United Kingdom	From United Kingdom Free 3-7 business days	£12.59 Earns 50 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £12.59 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: None	Paperbackshop International Available Qty: 14 United Kingdom	From United Kingdom £2.95 3-10 business days	£12.81 Earns 51 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £15.76 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: None	AwesomeBooksUK Available Qty: 3 United Kingdom	From United Kingdom £2.95 3-10 business days	£13.17 Earns 52 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £16.12 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: Later printing. pp. 736. A MINT copy. Exceptional! // Quality paperback; Double-thick 8vo; Glossary; Notes; Bibliog.; Index; 728 pp.	Vincent Prestianni Books Available Qty: 1 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£13.62 Earns 54 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £21.77 Add to Basket
Very Good Sellers Comments: None	Denton Island Books Available Qty: 1 United Kingdom	From United Kingdom £2.95 3-10 business days	£13.84 Earns 55 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £16.79 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: 736 pages.	StratfordBooks Available Qty: 1 United Kingdom	From United Kingdom £2.95 3-10 business days	£14.40 Earns 57 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £17.35 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: None	AwesomeBooksUK Available Qty: 5 United Kingdom	From United Kingdom £2.95 3-10 business days	£14.44 Earns 57 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £17.39 Add to Basket
Fine/Like New Sellers Comments: Crisp, clean, unread paperback with light shelfwear to the covers and a publisher's mark to one edge-Nice!	Eric Papenfuse, Bookseller Available Qty: 40 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£15.18 Earns 60 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £23.33 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: None	Kennys.ie Available Qty: 1 Ireland	From Ireland £4.00 5-14 business days	£15.76 Earns 63 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £19.76 Add to Basket
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Very Good Sellers Comments: None	Herb Tandree Philosophy Books Available Qty: 1 United Kingdom	From United Kingdom £2.95 3-10 business days	£18.85 Earns 75 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £21.80 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: None	Paperbackshop Available Qty: 14 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£19.89 Earns 79 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £28.04 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: BRAND NEW ITEM! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of items sold!	BargainBookStores Available Qty: 143 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£19.92 Earns 79 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £28.07 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: Book	El Pinarillo Books Available Qty: 1 United Kingdom	From United Kingdom £2.95 3-10 business days	£20.03 Earns 80 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £22.98 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: None	AwesomeNewBooks Available Qty: 3 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£21.46 Earns 85 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £29.61 Add to Basket
Fine/Like New Sellers Comments: 100% Brand New!	More Books Available Qty: 135 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£21.58 Earns 86 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £29.73 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: None	indoo.com Available Qty: 50 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£21.75 Earns 87 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £29.90 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: 100% Brand New!	More Books Available Qty: 130 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£21.78 Earns 87 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £29.93 Add to Basket
Fine/Like New Sellers Comments: Brand New! Fast shipping! Great customer service. You will be happy!	booklab Available Qty: 130 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£21.89 Earns 87 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £30.04 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: Brand New! Fast shipping! Great customer service. You will be happy!	booklab Available Qty: 130 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£22.10 Earns 88 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £30.25 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: None	AwesomeNewBooks Available Qty: 5 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£22.80 Earns 91 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £30.95 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: Shipped from a real independent book store in Manhattan.	Book Culture Inc. Available Qty: 1 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£25.71 Earns 102 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £33.86 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: None	shakespearebrooklyn Available Qty: 4 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£25.71 Earns 102 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £33.86 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: None	Paperbackshop Available Qty: 1 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£26.10 Earns 104 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £34.25 Add to Basket
New Sellers Comments: None	AwesomeNewBooks Available Qty: 5 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£27.12 Earns 108 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £35.27 Add to Basket
Good Sellers Comments: [ No Hassle 30 Day Returns ][ Underlining/Highlighting: SOME ] [ Edition: First ] Publisher: Continuum Pub Date: 1/9/2006 Binding: Paperback Pages: 736.	BookHolders Available Qty: 1 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£29.94 Earns 119 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £38.09 Add to Basket
Good Sellers Comments: [ No Hassle 30 Day Returns ] [ Writing: SOME ] [ Edition: First ] great shape just some writing in pencil Publisher: Continuum Pub Date: 1/9/2006 Binding: Paperback Pages: 736.	BookHolders Available Qty: 1 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£29.94 Earns 119 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £38.09 Add to Basket
Good Sellers Comments: [ No Hassle 30 Day Returns ][ Underlining/Highlighting: SOME ] [ Edition: First ] minimal highlighting Publisher: Continuum Pub Date: 1/9/2006 Binding: Paperback Pages: 736.	BookHolders Available Qty: 1 United States	From United States £8.15 21-28 business days	£29.94 Earns 119 Foyalty points Price including delivery to the UK = £38.09 Add to Basket

Condition

Seller

Postage

Price

Very Good

Sellers Comments:

The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

worldofbooks

Available Qty: 1

United Kingdom

From United Kingdom

£2.95 3-10 business days

£8.29

Earns 33 Foyalty points

Price including delivery to the UK = £11.24

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