The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Multiethnic American Literature: [5 volumes]

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Description

While other works cover individual ethnic literary traditions, this encyclopedia is the first to offer a comprehensive introduction to the spectacularly diverse range of ethnic American writing. Included are more than 1100 alphabetically arranged entries by more than 300 scholars. While most of the entries are biographical, others cover genres, ethnic stereotypes, seminal works, significant places, major historical events, key pieces of legislation, and various other topics that are part of the context of multiethnic America literature. While some of the writers profiled have international reputations, others are emerging artists. The encyclopedia is accessible to students and general readers, and numerous illustrations enhance its appeal to a broad audience. The collaborative effort of more than 300 specialists working under the direction of distinguished scholar and editor Emmanuel S. Nelson, the encyclopedia also benefits from the guidance of an exceptional advisory board, including: ; Kenneth J. Cerniglia ; Roberta Fernandez ; Thomas S. Gladsky ; Guiyou Huang ; Arnold Krupat ; Paul Lauter ; Ann R. Shapiro ; And Loretta G. Woodard. Because American society is increasingly diverse, students need to understand and value the perspectives and experiences of different ethnic groups. Literature presents social history in capsule form, and this encyclopedia will be a crucial reference for high school students and teachers interested in understanding contemporary American society. Public libraries, especially those serving ethnic communities, will also welcome this valuable resource, as will colleges and universities.

Reviews

A comprehensive set unique in its scope, this encyclopedia is an excellent foundational resource that adds much to the growing field of ethnic American literature. Many resources devoted to ethnic literatures have traditionally been exclusive groupings of multicultural African American, Native American, Hispanic American, and Jewish American literature. In this new multivolume work, a plethora of often-overlooked ethnic American writing can be found in over 1,100 entries on topics that include Swedish American literature, bilingualism, canon, immigration, Native American gay literature, and Italian American film (complete with an entry for HBO's The Sopranos, discussing among other things, its cultural impact upon the stereotyping of Italian culture). In addition, central characters of major works are interspersed among the alphabetically listed entries.[t]his encyclopedia provides a necessary framework for understanding and appreciating diversity by embracing American ethnic literature in its entirety. Highly recommended. All library collections; all levels. * Choice *
[A] major resource on ethnic American writers from the Colonial era, to the present.Featuring well over 1000 entries, the work celebrates American cultual diversity in all its vastness, covering not only key writers but also works, genres, major events, and much more. [A] clearly organized and thoughtfully produced five-volume reference set that describes ethnic contributors to American literature.Recommended for high school. college, and larger public libraries. * Library Journal *
This is a perfect resource for students (and librarians) who wish to find authors who are of a specific ethnicity. This is a good starting point for research, providing basic information and cross-references to related topics. This could be used by advanced junior high school students and certainly by all high school students, primarily in literature courses. Recommended. * Library Media Connection *
Unique to this set is its scope; it is the first reference work that aspires to provide a comprehensive sketch of American ethnic writing.This work is recommended without reservation for larger public libraries and academic libraries. * Reference & User Services Quarterly *
[A]ny library that serves a population which has an interest in literature, whatever its ethnic status, would do well to have this handsome work on its shelves. * Reference Reviews *
The publication of this encyclopedia is worthy of celebration. An ambitious project, it is the first reference work that seeks to offer a comprehensive introduction to a spectacularly diverse range of ethnic American writing. The editor and contributors live up to that statement. The represented ethnic literatures include African American, Amish, Chinese American, Jewish American, Native American, and Vietnamese American, among many others. There are over 1,100 signed entries, of which approximately 1,000 are on individual authors. Entries run in length from one to several pages and are followed by a list of suggested readings.Highly recommended, this is an essential work for high school, college, and public libraries. * MultiCultural Review *
[V]ery highly recommended staple for any college-level collection strong in literature. Over 300 specialists contribute to a reference which includes writers with both international reputations and local fame. Topic as well as author entries make it easy to cross-reference information for associative study, while listings blend biography and review of major works with critical analysis. tocontribute to Literature * MBR Bookwatch - California Bookwatch *
Truly multiethnic in scope, this encyclopedia assembles a wealth of information for libraries that are now peppered with numerous volumes devoted to a single ethnic literary tradition. More that 300 contributors provide authoritative information on concepts, major works, events, people, and publishers that represent the literatures and voices of the multiethnic American experience. Numerous entries focus on individual authors. Further readings and black-and-white images are included. Breadth and readability make this a wonderful resource for students and general readers alike. * American Libraries *
An exploration of the breadth of ethnic literature in the U.S. The set contains more than 1100 signed alphabetical entries, with over 1000 of them focusing on individual authors. In addition to these well-written profiles, the work also contains articles on specific topics (Caribbean American Novel, Native American Poetry, Japanese American Autobiography) and on key works (Toni Morrison's Beloved, Piri Thomas's Down These Mean Streets, and Bharati Mukherjee's Jasmine). Numerous ethnic groups are represented-writers whose heritage is Amish, Jewish, Italian, and Asian among others. There are surprises, too-such as the articles about Ellis Island, its western counterpart Angel Island, and Wounded Knee.The scope of the biographical entries is incredible-from the prolific to the obscure, from Dr. Seuss to M*A*S*H creator Larry Gelbart. The extensive index is excellent, and the introduction is thought-provoking. * School Library Journal *
This wondefully wide-ranging and comprehensive set is unique in its breadth of coverage of the history, trends, and current directions of the nebulous category of writing in the U.S. called multicultural literature. Everything from influential works to prominent events and places in the sociopolitical history of America's ethnic groups is covered.[t]his is a fine contribution to the still-emerging and growing study of the widely varied multicultural literature of the U.S. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries. * Booklist, Starred Review *
The outstanding college-level set edited by Emmanuel S. Nelson GREENWOOD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MULTIETHNIC AMERICAN LITERATURE is a very highly recommended staple for any college-level collection strong in literature. It's the first to provide a broad introduction to all ethnic American writers, providing over a thousand entries on both individual writers and literary genres as a whole. Over 300 specialists contribute to a reference which includes writers with both international reputations and local fame. Topic as well as author entries make it easy to cross-reference information for associative study, while listings blend biography and review of major works with critical analysis. * Midwest Book Review/MBR Bookwatch *

Author Bio

Emmanuel S. Nelson is Professor of English at the State University of New York, College at Cortland. His many books include African American Dramatists: An A-to-Z Guide (2004), African American Authors, 1745-1945: A Bio-Bibliographical Critical Sourcebook (2000), and Contemporary African American Novelists: A Bio-Bibliographical Critical Sourcebook (1999), all available from Greenwood Press.