American Literary Magazines: The Twentieth Century

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Description

The history of modern American literature is inextricably tied to the history of the literary magazine. Conversely, in the individual histories of these magazines can be gleaned highlights of literary activity and insights on the writers and editors in the forefront. The literary magazines of the 20th century, most of them known as "littles" because of small budgets and circulation and short lives, number in the 1000s. Some, like the venerable "New Yorker", have enjoyed wide circulation for well over half a century; others, like "The Fugitive", published in Nashville, Tennessee, in the early 1920s, were regional and/or experimental and short-lived. Of these foundations, editor Edward E. Chielens has selected 76 of the most significant for description and analysis in individual historical essays. An additional 100 magazines are briefly profiled in an appendix. Forty-three scholars and writers contributed to this volume. Following the pattern established in Chielens's earlier complementary volume, "American Literary Magazines - the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries", the magazine essays also provide appended data on information sources and publishing history. The volume introduction discusses the characteristics of different types of literary magazines in the 20th century and their sponsoring organizations or individuals as well as the influence on their development of leading literary figures such as Ezra Pound and H.L. Mencken. This discussion is bolstered by a chronological appendix to the volume presenting highlights in the history of literary magazines in the perspective of events in literary history. An additional appendix provides a directory of major collections of literary magazines in the United States and Canada with descriptions of their holdings.

Reviews

Chielens has edited numerous excellent publications on literary journals including the companion volume, American Literary Magazines: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries (CH, Feb '87). There are many indexes, directories, and bibliographies devoted to American literary magazines, but fewer evaluative histories like Chielens's. This follows the format of the earlier volume, offering signed essays on the major journals of the period that "most influenced the development of American literature" either through primary publication or "promoting groups of writers and new schools of literature." . . . Titles treated include defunct publications such as Broom, Double Dealer, and Twice a Year, and very active publications such as American Poetry Review, Paris Review, and Sulfur. The essays describe the founding and editorial history of each journal, examine its reputation and influence, note significant contributions, and compare it to similar journals. . . . A "Publication History" follows the bibliographies, providing, e.g., title changes, years of publication, frequency, and names of editors. . . . Useful general index of authors, titles, and subjects. Highly recommended.-Choice
This appendix alone is worth the price of the book to scholars who need precise information about the locations of runs of these magazines. ARBA" . . . well-produced and important work, which fills a void in the research of American literature. It will be useful to the undergraduate as well as the more serious researcher and is highly recommended for every library.-RQ
This companion volume to American Literary Magazines: The 18th and 19th Centuries (Greenwood, 1986) offers histories of 76 literary magazines. The entries, by 43 noteworthy contributors, highlight major influences on this century's literary scene. Each profile includes a bibliography, list of reprint sources, locations of existing runs, and indexing information. Three appendices follow the alphabetically arranged entries: the first briefly describes 100 magazines that did not merit full profiles; the second, a chronology, juxtaposes the history of the magazines with social and literary events of the time; the third analyzes 28 American and Canadian 'little magazine' collections. This volume provides a wealth of information on America's literary-historical development, complete with excellent documentation, along with its companion volume, for collections of American literary history and criticism.-Library Journal
"This appendix alone is worth the price of the book to scholars who need precise information about the locations of runs of these magazines. ARBA" . . . well-produced and important work, which fills a void in the research of American literature. It will be useful to the undergraduate as well as the more serious researcher and is highly recommended for every library."-RQ
"This companion volume to American Literary Magazines: The 18th and 19th Centuries (Greenwood, 1986) offers histories of 76 literary magazines. The entries, by 43 noteworthy contributors, highlight major influences on this century's literary scene. Each profile includes a bibliography, list of reprint sources, locations of existing runs, and indexing information. Three appendices follow the alphabetically arranged entries: the first briefly describes 100 magazines that did not merit full profiles; the second, a chronology, juxtaposes the history of the magazines with social and literary events of the time; the third analyzes 28 American and Canadian 'little magazine' collections. This volume provides a wealth of information on America's literary-historical development, complete with excellent documentation, along with its companion volume, for collections of American literary history and criticism."-Library Journal
"Chielens has edited numerous excellent publications on literary journals including the companion volume, American Literary Magazines: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries (CH, Feb '87). There are many indexes, directories, and bibliographies devoted to American literary magazines, but fewer evaluative histories like Chielens's. This follows the format of the earlier volume, offering signed essays on the major journals of the period that "most influenced the development of American literature" either through primary publication or "promoting groups of writers and new schools of literature." . . . Titles treated include defunct publications such as Broom, Double Dealer, and Twice a Year, and very active publications such as American Poetry Review, Paris Review, and Sulfur. The essays describe the founding and editorial history of each journal, examine its reputation and influence, note significant contributions, and compare it to similar journals. . . . A "Publication History" follows the bibliographies, providing, e.g., title changes, years of publication, frequency, and names of editors. . . . Useful general index of authors, titles, and subjects. Highly recommended."-Choice

Author Bio

EDWARD E. CHIELENS is Chair of the English Division at Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn, Michigan. His publications include two annotated bibliographies, The Literary Journal in American to 1900 and The Literary Journal in America, 1900-1950, as well as American Literary Magazine: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries (Greenwood Press, 1986).