The Harlem Renaissance: A Gale Critical Companion [Hardcover]

Janet Witalec (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up-This set includes a wealth of information about the Harlem Renaissance from the perspective of those who experienced it. Volume one includes an overview of the era. Various sections discuss social, economic, and political influences; performing arts; periodicals; and visual arts. The many primary sources included are often lengthy and sophisticated, sometimes offering different views on a topic. The other two volumes provide in-depth coverage of a range of literary figures such as Gwendolyn Bennett, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, and Walter White. Biographical sketches and critical essays are included for each person. Principal works by each author are covered at length. "Primary Sources" includes entire poems or excerpts from short stories or essays. Annotated lists for further reading conclude each entry. Serious students of the period will find this scholarly look at the major issues and literary figures of the Harlem Renaissance invaluable.
Julie Webb, Shelby County High School, Shelbyville, KY
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Intended for upper-high-school and undergraduate students, Harlem Renaissance spans three volumes. Volume 1 focuses on five topic areas, starting with an overview and background information, then moving on to chapters on social, economic, and political factors; publishing and periodicals; performing arts; and the visual arts. Each chapter averages about 100 pages and follows a standard pattern of organization. For example, the chapter discussing the performing arts begins with a two-page introduction followed by a list of representative works and a collection of primary materials. Essays reprinted from other sources provide overviews of performing arts during the Harlem Renaissance and discussions of drama, film, and music. Each chapter ends with a list of further readings. Reading lists are excellently annotated and current but neglect Internet sites.

Volumes 2 and 3 are devoted to writers. Eleven female and twenty-two male authors are discussed, among them Arna Bontemps, Marcus Garvey, Angelina Weld Grimke, James Weldon Johnson, and Dorothy West. Entries average 30 to 50 pages, the shortest being 7 pages. Most author entries include biographical profiles, lists of principal works, some primary source material, critical essays, and further reading lists. For example, the entry on Zora Neale Hurston includes, among other items, the short story "Spunk," nine complete critical essays reprinted from other sources, and a one-and-one-half page listing of further readings, including cross-references to other Gale titles. Two illustrations are included within the section on Hurston, a photo of the author and a playbill cover. Illustrations are in black and white and of good quality but used sparingly throughout the set. Each volume contains a cumulative author index, title index, and subject index plus a chronology outlining key events between 1890 and 1937.

Although much of the content is available elsewhere, including other publications from Gale (according to the preface there is 15 percent or less overlap with Gale's Literary Criticism series), it is useful to have so much material brought together and presented in this particular context. The breadth and depth of Harlem Renaissance make it a valuable and unique reference source for academic, public, and high-school libraries. A resource with a similar title, Harlem Renaissance (UXL, 2000), is better suited for younger audiences. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1500 pages
• Publisher: Gale; 1 edition (October 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787666181
• ISBN-13: 978-0787666187
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9 x 6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,890,678 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)