The Mid-Atlantic Region: The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional Cultures

(Hardback)

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Description

The Mid-Atlantic Region, including Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, is home to the crossroads of northeastern America, a nexus between New England, the Midwest, and the South. Furthermore, the region possesses incredible cultural diversity ranging from urban metropolises to shore communities to pastoral villages to Rust Belt towns. The Mid-Atlantic states are home to Iroquois tales and Washington Irving's literary legends; the Hudson River School of painting as well as the SoHo art community; the Adirondack mountains and the Cheasapeake Bay ecosystem; Amish barns and modernist skyscrapers; music ranging from New York punk to DC hardcore and to Pennsylvania polka to Bruce Springsteen; Philly cheesestakes and Maryland crabcakes; the traditional sport of lacrosse, the cradle of quarterbacks, and the Subway Series. This volume contains thirteen overview chapters that present an impressive survey of the many ways in which the Mid-Atlantic has exemplified both mixing pot and salad bowl within the American experience. The Greenwood Encyclopedia of American Regional Cultures is the first rigorous reference collection on the many ways in which American identity has been defined by its regions and its people. Each of its eight regional volumes presents thoroughly researched narrative chapters on Architecture; Art; Ecology & Environment; Ethnicity; Fashion; Film & Theater; Folklore; Food; Language; Literature; Music; Religion; and Sports & Recreation. Each book also includes a volume-specific introduction, as well as a series foreword by noted regional scholar and former National Endowment for the Humanities chairman William Ferris, who served as Consulting Editor for this encyclopedia.

Reviews

"This set provides a comprehensive view of America's regional history and culture.... This encyclopedia set provides a resource that is compatible with regional studies curricula. Highly recommended. All levels." - Choice, June 2005 "Exploring both history and culture, this resource offers a comprehensive view of our nation's diverse regions.... The narratives focus on distinctive U.S. regions, with subjects ranging from architecture, art, and ecology to fashion, folklore, food, language, literature, music, religion, and sports.... With interest in regionalism on the rise owing to increased literary and American studies programs, students conducting research on regional identities and cultural distinctiveness will be well served by the depth of coverage this set provides. Classroom teachers and library media specialists could also utilize it in their own research. Recommended for academic and larger public libraries." - Library Journal, March 15, 2005 "This reference set will be a great source for students in grade seven and up, especially for schools and public libraries where states and cultural heritage assignments are frequent and curriculum support is needed." - VOYA, June 2005"

Author Bio

ROBERT P. MARZEC is Associate Professor at the State University of New York at Fredonia. He is the founding editor of the journal Crossings and has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Humanities with an award for his scholarship.