This is the third volume in a series giving bibliographic references for articles written about many phases of American literature. It has an extensive section listing articles about the works of specific American authors. Other sections included are: American literature (aims and methods, bibliography, biography and autobiography, and ethnic…

Native American literary works have often been ignored by serious critics or examined by social scientists in ways that rob them of their effectiveness as works of art. The emphasis of postmodern theory on the creative power of language, on narrative discourse, and on signs and semiotics allows an original and perceptive approach to Native…

Designed for use by the general reader, the college student, and the teacher, this book analyzes the life and literary career of Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw), emphasizing his literary ventures and artistic talents. The analysis reveals Billings' talents as a subtle humorist, homespun philosopher, and artist of the essay. Chapters include…

Featuring biographical information, detailed discussion of specific short stories and poems, critical analysis, and innovative activities for teaching literature and writing, this book takes the reader into the world and work of Raymond Carver, the "father of minimalism." Carver's writing presents an honest and moving portrayal of modern American…

This collection provides an inside view of the world of books, writers, and writing. The 33 separate contributions include excerpts from James Dickey's personal log that provide insights into the process of writing a novel; excerpts from the diary of John Shaw Billings, the first managing editor of "Life," that describe the launching of that…

A collection of five essays (plus preface and afterword) by noted feminist critics, this book provides an overview of the existing body of feminist literary criticism in order to promote an understanding of the issues feminist critics are currently discussing among themselves and with other critics. A theoretical framework for understanding this…

By examining the works of classic American authors, this book presents the idea that individual human beings can break free of the structures of thought into which they are born and that, by reimagining the world, can change it. In chapters on Herman Melville, Henry David Thoreau, Edith Wharton, Richard Wright, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Abraham…

A completely revised edition of "The Walt Whitman Handbook," this book updates Whitman scholarship and discusses the growth of Whitman biography, the growth of "Leaves of Grass," the realm of Whitman's ideas, literary technique in "Leaves of Grass," and Whitman and world literature. Also included are a chronological…

Intended as a guidebook for high school English teachers, this book contains analyses of American novels commonly read in high school English classes. Each chapter is divided into two sections: an analysis of the novel, including discussions of story and setting, characters, themes, and language and style; and a guide to teaching the novel in the…

The purposes of this collection of 15 essays on specific works of fiction for children and adolescents are threefold: to explore some of the similarities and differences in fiction for children in England and the United States; to point out some of the qualities of American literature that are of particular interest to children in England and to…

This book attempts to assess a half century of Afro-American poetry published from 1890 to 1940, focusing on the human experience--individual and collective--from which this poetry was produced. In analyzing the place of black poetry in the American literary domain, attention is given to historical, religious, sociological, and cultural…

This book is an examination of the ideas of black writers in a variety of political, economic, social, and cultural contexts during the depression years, focusing on published writings of the most prominent writers of the era. Chapters include "Aged Race Men," which examines the clash that occurred in the 1930s between older black leaders and the…

This book challenges current paradigms of literature instruction by making a strong case for teaching critical theory in high school literature classrooms. The book urges teachers to expand their theoretical repertoires. It argues for the importance of multiple perspectives in enabling students to better read and interpret literature, as well as…

Suggesting that many works by and about women are available, accessible, and necessary to balance the high school English curriculum, this book offers diverse selections from women writers and introduces practical ideas on how to integrate them into the curriculum. Multicultural and feminist, the book is intended for teachers already engaged in…

This volume attempts to view the literature of the United States as part of the literature of the English-speaking people and as a part of world literature. Biographies of writers, summaries of plots, and footnoting have been minimized to devote the maximum attention to an examination of the literature itself. The book consists of studies of the…