Encyclopedia of African-American Literature (Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Literature) [Hardcover]

Wilfred D. Samuels (Author), Loretta Gilchrist Woodard (Editor), Tracie Church Guzzio (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The alphabetically arranged entries in this volume cover the full spectrum of African American literature, from the seminal poetry of Phillis Wheatley to popular contemporary novelists like Bebe Moore Campbell and Terry McMillan. Literary movements like the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement merit their own entries. Additionally, well-known anthologies, journals, and newsletters are included. There is even an entry for the stereotypes Sambo and Uncle Tom.  Although novelists, poets, and playwrights are predominant, well-known nonfiction writers (Cornel West) and orators (Martin Luther King Jr.) are also covered. Some entries are devoted to popular-culture icons like Tupac Shakur, Sister Souljah, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, and Spike Lee, included as much for their public presence and promotion of African American culture as for their facility with language. Famous works warrant their own entries—Invisible Man, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” The Color Purple, etc. The biographical entries outline the person’s significance, while those devoted to works provide a synopsis of the piece and of its critical reception. Entries are followed by useful bibliographies of 5–10 sources on average, which include books, journal articles, and Web sites. Some of these resources are also compiled at the end of the volume in a selected “Bibliography of Secondary Sources.” Additionally, there is a selected list of “Major Works by African-American Writers.”  The volume does not shy away from the controversial. For example, the issues surrounding the Confessions of Nat Turner (1831), which was actually written by Turner’s white attorney, are discussed, as is the contemporary novelization of The Confessions, by William Styron, widely considered to be a demonization of Turner’s character. Overall, this is a strong resource in terms of its scope and breadth. Because it covers so much in one volume, the entries cannot delve too deeply into their subjects. Still, it is an excellent starting point or background resource for anyone conducting research within the broad spectrum of African American literature. It complements resources such as The Greenwood Encyclopedia of African American Literature (2005), which covers more writers but does not have entries for works. --Michael Tosko

Product Details

• Hardcover: 626 pages
• Publisher: Facts on File (July 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816050732
• ISBN-13: 978-0816050734
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,640,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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