Student's Encyclopedia of Great American Writers

Gr 9 Up—More than 180 writers currently studied are profiled in this set. Arranged chronologically, the volumes begin with colonists such as Anne Bradstreet and revolutionary writers such as Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson. Subsequent volumes feature both canonical figures identified with America's literary movements and lesser-known writers gaining public and scholarly interest. Each volume, or time period, opens with a historical review of the featured literary era. Volume 2 covers the American culture between 1830 and 1900 with authors such as Stephen Crane, Emily Dickinson, and the oft-neglected African-American writers Charles Waddell Chesnutt and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Defined as a period of civil unrest, 1945—1970 (Volume 4) is typical in its variety, featuring poets such as Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Elizabeth Bishop, novelists such as Harper Lee, and Civil Rights Leader and theologian Martin Luther King, Jr. Biographical information sets the stage for analyses of the individual works. A tidbit such as Cormac McCarthy coming out of seclusion to appear on Oprah includes a link to the interview that propelled his dystopian novel, The Road, toward phenomenal sales. Each analysis is followed by questions. While there is no general index, individual volumes contain a list of writers and works included and an appendix of authors listed chronologically and alphabetically. This title stands out for its recognition and inclusion of a large number of female writers and writers of a variety of ethnicities.—Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY