Jerzy Kosinski: An Annotated Bibliography

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

The subject of divided critical opinion because of the experimental nature of his writings and his use of radical subject matter, Jerzy Kosinski, author of such novels as "The Painted Bird" and "Being There", nevertheless ranks among the most celebrated of contemporary American authors. By the time of his death in May 1991, 70 million copies of his novels were in circulation. He received various academic posts, awards and fellowships during his lifetime - these and the popularity of his writings confirm Kosinski as a major figure in modern American literature. The range of critical response is in evidence in this annoted bibliography. It comprises listings of both primary and secondary sources on Kosinski through 1990. The primary sources provide editions of his novels, recordings, nonfiction books, miscellaneous writings, and interviews. Secondary sources include reference materials, books and monographs, biographical sources, dissertations, and criticism and reviews specific to particular works. Access is facilitated by author and subject indexes. The work should be of special value to those interested in Holocaust and expatriate fiction as well as to students of 20th-century American and American-Jewish literature in general.

Reviews

Jerzy Kosinski shocked the world by taking his life in his New York apartment on May 3, 1991, a national holiday of his native Poland. Thus, this bibliography acquires a very special significance, and its personal aspect is augmented by the style of the annotations, which deliberately reflect Kosinski's "tone and choice of language." The first part, "Primary Sources," is divided into listings of fiction, miscellaneous writings, and interviews. In fiction, novels are separated from short stories. The miscellaneous writings list makes clear distinctions among articles, books, recordings, and reviews. The same clarity applies to Part 2, "Secondary Sources." After three introductory sections dealing with biobibliographic sources in general, the section titled "Criticism and Reviews" turns to the author's individual works of fiction, starting alphabetically with Being There and ending with Steps. Reviews of nonfiction appear under a separate listing. Foreign-language sources have deservedly earned a special place. Dissertations are also listed as a separate section of "Secondary Sources." Recordings are another feature that makes this bibliography personal; interviews, as stated, are treated here as primary sources. Expertly prepared author and subject indexes enable one to find desired information quickly and readily. As a concession to practicality, items not available through national interlibrary loan sources have been left out. This and many other features make this volume a model of bibliography devoted to the writings of a single author. It would hardly be an exaggeration to state that this work is a bright spot within the author's tragedy. Both undergraduate and graduatecollections.-Choice
This reference tool will be useful to scholars interested in World War II fiction, the psychology of deviance, modern American politics and culture, black humor, cinematic techniques, the gothic grotesque, and media responsibility.-ARBA
"This reference tool will be useful to scholars interested in World War II fiction, the psychology of deviance, modern American politics and culture, black humor, cinematic techniques, the gothic grotesque, and media responsibility."-ARBA
"Jerzy Kosinski shocked the world by taking his life in his New York apartment on May 3, 1991, a national holiday of his native Poland. Thus, this bibliography acquires a very special significance, and its personal aspect is augmented by the style of the annotations, which deliberately reflect Kosinski's "tone and choice of language." The first part, "Primary Sources," is divided into listings of fiction, miscellaneous writings, and interviews. In fiction, novels are separated from short stories. The miscellaneous writings list makes clear distinctions among articles, books, recordings, and reviews. The same clarity applies to Part 2, "Secondary Sources." After three introductory sections dealing with biobibliographic sources in general, the section titled "Criticism and Reviews" turns to the author's individual works of fiction, starting alphabetically with Being There and ending with Steps. Reviews of nonfiction appear under a separate listing. Foreign-language sources have deservedly earned a special place. Dissertations are also listed as a separate section of "Secondary Sources." Recordings are another feature that makes this bibliography personal; interviews, as stated, are treated here as primary sources. Expertly prepared author and subject indexes enable one to find desired information quickly and readily. As a concession to practicality, items not available through national interlibrary loan sources have been left out. This and many other features make this volume a model of bibliography devoted to the writings of a single author. It would hardly be an exaggeration to state that this work is a bright spot within the author's tragedy. Both undergraduate and graduatecollections."-Choice

Author Bio

GLORIA L. CRONIN is Associate Professor of English at Brigham Young University and BLAINE H. HALL is English Language and Literature Librarian there. The two authors share a specialty in American Jewish literature and bibliography. They have collaborated on Saul Bellow: An Annotated Bibliography and Jewish American Fiction Writers: An Annotated Bibliography.