Rudolfo A. Anaya: A Critical Companion

(Hardback)

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Rudolfo A. Anaya's seven novels can all be viewed in terms of the Chicano literary tradition though their rich texts have earned Anaya a place of respect in mainstream modern American literature. Fern^D'andez Olmos guides the reader through Anaya's literary world with clear signposts, illuminating the mythical, cultural, and linguistic complexities of his astounding stories. From his coming of age masterpiece Bless Me, Ultima (1972) to his most recent work Shaman Winter (1999) Anaya's writing with its rich spiritual symbolism is brought down to earth and made accessible to the student reader by Fern^D'andez Olmos insightful analyses. This work devotes a chapter to each novel, enabling Fern^D'andez Olmos to guide the reader through each, showing both the patterns and variations of literary devices in Anaya's works, while offering interesting alternative interpretations of Anaya's writing. Fern^D'andez Olmos presents a well-researched chapter on the life of Rudolfo Anaya, familiarizing readers with his Hispanic cultural background which figures so prominently in his writing. A chapter on Anaya and the Chicano literary tradition deepens the reader's understanding and appreciation of the writer's tremendous contributions. Fernndez Olmos then devotes a full chapter to each of the novels, Bless Me, Ultima, Heart of Aztln, Tortuga, and Alberqueque; his detective novels, Zia Summer and Rio Grande Fall; and his modern-day parable Jalamanta: A Message from the Desert. Student readers and researchers will find the bibliography which includes reviews, criticisms, and other secondary sources to be very helpful.

Reviews

Schools whose curriculum includes Anaya's works will certainly want to have this important analysis.-Reference for Students -- GaleGroup.com Reviews
This refreshing take on Anaya's literature reflects a growing, and much needed, criticism of a collection of work that is slowly being recognized as an incredible contribution to American culture.-Western American Literature
"Schools whose curriculum includes Anaya's works will certainly want to have this important analysis."-Reference for Students -- GaleGroup.com Reviews
"This refreshing take on Anaya's literature reflects a growing, and much needed, criticism of a collection of work that is slowly being recognized as an incredible contribution to American culture."-Western American Literature

Author Bio

Margarite Fernndez Olmos is Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, where she teaches courses in Spanish and Latin American Studies. She has coedited numerous volumes including The Latino Reader: An American Literary Tradition from 1542 To The Present (1997) and Remaking A Lost Harmony: Short Stories From The Hispanic Caribbean (1995) for which she was coeditor and translator, and has written a wealth of articles for both Spanish and English language journals.