Contemporary American Women Poets: An A-to-Z Guide [Hardcover]

Catherine Cucinella (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313317836 | ISBN-13: 978-0313317835 | Publication Date: November 30, 2002

Feminist efforts have recovered the works of early women poets, and much of this rediscovered work now appears in anthologies. As a result, women poets writing today must not only struggle against a largely male tradition, but must also confront existing feminist expectations. In mapping the achievements of contemporary American women poets, this reference helps liberate them from restrictive conventional views and illustrates the tremendous diversity of their works.

Included are alphabetically arranged entries on nearly 70 American women poets who published significant works after 1945. Each entry is written by an expert contributor and presents a short biography, a discussion of major works and themes, a survey of the poet's critical reception, and primary and secondary bibliographies. Included poets come from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds, geographical regions, and social classes. Some, such as Maya Angelou and Adrienne Rich, have received significant critical attention, while others are only beginning to attract interest and acclaim.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Into the crowded field of biographical reference sources comes a new work from Greenwood, covering women writers who have written the majority of their works since 1945. Some are established authors, while others are still building their reputations. The editors say that the selected poets represent a wide variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds, and come from all parts of the U.S. but offer no further explanation that justifies why some poets were chosen over others.

E The book is set up in an A-Z format with each author having a five- to six-page essay. Each essay includes a biography, an analysis of the writer's major works, and a bibliography of works by and about the author. The essays themselves are very readable and would be appropriate for high-school students and general readers who need a good overview of the writer's life and works. Because the essays are relatively short, college students would not have enough information for research papers but would find the articles helpful introductions.

Reference works on literary biography abound.

The writers are all included in Gale's Contemporary Authors series. Many are also included in Gale's Dictionary of Literary Biography series and Contemporary Literary Criticism series, which give more extensive biographical and analytical information. Approximately two-thirds of the poets can be found in Salem's Critical Survey of Poetry. Libraries that already own Contemporary Authors and other Gale and Salem series might want to pass on this works, but smaller public libraries and high-school school libraries will find it very helpful for students and general readers who want a good overview of contemporary women authors and poets. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

.,."public libraries and high-school libraries will find this volume very helpful for students and general readers who want a good overview of contemporary women poets."-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood (November 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313317836
• ISBN-13: 978-0313317835
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,251,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)