Concise Encyclopedia of the Original Literature of Esperanto [Hardcover]

Geoffrey H. Sutton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 8, 2008

Concise Encyclopedia of the Original Literature of Esperanto is a unique work of international reference, with over 300 individual articles on the most important authors. Its introductory articles to the literature and to each of its periods also tell the fascinating story of the development of the literature from its humble beginnings in 1887 to its worldwide use in every literary genre today. --- The planned, neutral international language Esperanto is used across the world as a second language by people who wish to practice mutual respect for other cultures, not merely advocate it. --- Original Esperanto literature - creative writing directly in Esperanto by, at least, bilingual speakers - is the work of authors from many countries, who have chosen to write in it because of its merits. It is, as yet, always a labour of love, that is to say a product of culture. It is also most fundamentally democratic - a product of people - as opposed to capital, power or national prestige. Esperanto culture is rooted in the fundamental values of humanity, equality and mutual respect, multilingualism, language rights, and cultural diversity and emancipation.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 740 pages
• Publisher: Mondial (June 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595690905
• ISBN-13: 978-1595690906
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,490,202 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Truly International Body of Literature, September 29, 2008

By 

Blaran Odhar (Tullamore, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Concise Encyclopedia of the Original Literature of Esperanto (Hardcover)

Detractors of Esperanto (who usually know little or nothing of the language) are often heard asserting that it has no culture, no literature and no community. This remarkable encyclopedia gives the lie to such a view. It abundantly demonstrates the richness, variety, quality and internationality of a literature produced by an astonishing range of writers from Europe, African, Oceania and Asia. Here we are introduced to a huge body of work comparable to almost any other world literature, bearing in mind that it has evolved over a period of only 121 years since Dr. L.L. Zamenhof launched his planned language on the world.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A BOOK FOR ALL LIBRARIES, September 22, 2008

By 

Peter E. Browne "osonegro" (Edinburg, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Concise Encyclopedia of the Original Literature of Esperanto (Hardcover)

This "encyclopedia" should be in all libraries in the United States. Especially in university libraries. Of course, this will not bring about the "fina venko", but it should give the public a much more complete and serious idea of what has actually been produced in the world of Esperanto culture. Convincing your library that it should have this book on its shelf is probably the best thing you can do for Esperanto in the present. So, my karaj samideanoj, this is the best way to spend your money for the cause. The book may have some flaws (for instance, I myself am not given a place as an important Esperanto poet) but its virtues and fine scholarship would make up for these. So once again, samideanoj, make sure this book is in your library. --Peter E. Browne, Associate Professor of Spanish, U. of Texas--Pan American, Texas

4.0 out of 5 stars A Complex and Fascinating Story, August 7, 2011

By 

Russell Watkins (Franklin, IN) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Concise Encyclopedia of the Original Literature of Esperanto (Hardcover)

The multifaceted story of Esperanto Literature; the social, historical, and linguistic forces;as well as the multiple personalities who have contributed to and shaped the literary tradistion within the Esperanto commutity. Although the individual biographies are interesting reading; this is not a "reading" book; but rather as it titles itself - an Encyclopedia with a trove of information not only about the various authors and thier works, but also reviews and literary criticism of those works.
This volume provides comrehensive lists not only of each authors original works in Esperanto but also works they translated into Esperanto, thier works that have been translated from Esperanto into other tounges and anthologies that contain thier works.
This is a comprehensive work of reference, but it is worth the price if it contained only the biographies of the multitude of published Esperanto authors and poets.