Thematic Guide to the American Novel

(Hardback)

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Description

This unique resource provides readers with a systematic guide to the central themes in 150 of the most commonly taught American novels. Each of the 50 well written essays identifies and discusses an important theme, such as Alienation, Corruption of Power, and Immigrant Life that recurs in American literature. The pertinence of these themes is examined in a wide range of novels that reflect this country's cultural diversity and that span the many time periods in America's literary heritage. These novels include the canonical and the contemporary, yet they are all works that are accessible and important to students, and were selected in consultation with educators and experts' published curriculum surveys. The organization of this guide allows users to compare and contrast thematically related novels and also provides help in the selection of titles for classroom discussion and assignments. This thematic guide is organized into 50 narrative essays. Each essay, written expressively with the student in mind, provides in-depth analyses of three American novels. The entries include selected lists of further suggested readings; additional fiction works that relate to the theme explored. Two helpful appendices make this resource even more valuable for the literature collection. One appendix provides additional themes and topics to be explored in the 150 novels. For quick reference, a second appendix organizes the 150 discussed novels alphabetically, identifying both the central and secondary themes for discussion in each. An author/title index, as well as a character/title index, facilitated optimum access to these works.

Reviews

.,."an excellent tool for selecting classroom-reading materials, as well as for recommending novels with similar themes. Students may find it helpful for comparing and contrasting novels in American literature classes. Recommended."-The Book Report
...an excellent tool for selecting classroom-reading materials, as well as for recommending novels with similar themes. Students may find it helpful for comparing and contrasting novels in American literature classes. Recommended.-The Book Report
Any teacher, student, or general reader interested in comparing and contrasting diverse but thematically related American novels will find in this book a unique and valuable approach to American literature.-VOYA
English teachers looking for new novels to teach, students thinking about topics for literature term papers, and librarians eager to circulate classic as well as recent titles will all find this volume useful....professional collections, high school, academic, and public libraries.-Booklist
Focusing on familiar classroom offerings, they promote the understanding of particular genres of writing by comparing and contrasting the different approaches authors take to commonly recurring themes in literature... This guide is an excellent example of the art of literary explication. The handy survey of familiar themes and works should provide students with numerous ideas for developing papers and research of their own.-Gale-Reference Reviews
Thematic Guide To The American Novel is a college-level reference providing a systematic guide to the central themes of over a hundred commonly taught American novels, with essays identifying, comparing, and contracting their thematic connections. Each major theme recieves a host of analytical comparisons throughout American literature and culture in this excellent reference.-Internet BookWatch
This work will be of use to high school and college students, recreational readers, and readers' advisors. Large academic and all public libraries.-Choice
..."an excellent tool for selecting classroom-reading materials, as well as for recommending novels with similar themes. Students may find it helpful for comparing and contrasting novels in American literature classes. Recommended."-The Book Report
"Any teacher, student, or general reader interested in comparing and contrasting diverse but thematically related American novels will find in this book a unique and valuable approach to American literature."-VOYA
"English teachers looking for new novels to teach, students thinking about topics for literature term papers, and librarians eager to circulate classic as well as recent titles will all find this volume useful....professional collections, high school, academic, and public libraries."-Booklist
"Thematic Guide To The American Novel is a college-level reference providing a systematic guide to the central themes of over a hundred commonly taught American novels, with essays identifying, comparing, and contracting their thematic connections. Each major theme recieves a host of analytical comparisons throughout American literature and culture in this excellent reference."-Internet BookWatch
"This work will be of use to high school and college students, recreational readers, and readers' advisors. Large academic and all public libraries."-Choice
"Focusing on familiar classroom offerings, they promote the understanding of particular genres of writing by comparing and contrasting the different approaches authors take to commonly recurring themes in literature... This guide is an excellent example of the art of literary explication. The handy survey of familiar themes and works should provide students with numerous ideas for developing papers and research of their own."-Gale-Reference Reviews

Author Bio

LYNDA G. ADAMSON is Professor of Literature and Chair of the English Department at Prince George's Community College. She has taught American, Children's and Comparative Literature courses and has been honored with the Senate Faculty Excellence Award. She has previously written ten reference books including Notable Women in American History (Greenwood 1999), Literature Connections to American History (1998) and Recreating the Past: A Guide to American and World Historical Fiction for Children and Young Adults (Greenwood 1994).