Nancy Drew and Her Sister Sleuths: Essays on the Fiction of Girl Detectives [Paperback]

Michael G. Cornelius (Author, Editor), Melanie E. Gregg (Author, Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 19, 2008

This collection of essays focuses on the girl sleuth, made famous by Nancy Drew but also characterized by other famous detectives like Cherry Ames, Trixie Belden, Linda Carlton, and even in contemporary media by Veronica Mars and Hermione Granger of the Harry Potter series.

Topics include the disputed origins of Nancy Drew and the Stratemeyer Syndicate; the intertwined relationships between the Syndicate and Nancy Drew's many ghostwriters; the distinct and evolving textual identities of the Cherry Ames series; the adaptation of the traditional archetype by contemporary girl detectives like Veronica Mars, Lulu Dark, and Ingrid Levin-Hill; and the ways in which Harry Potter's Hermione Granger, while a central character in the series, is often at odds with the male-centric, fantasy-genre world of Harry Potter himself.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

This collection of articles is an interesting and thought-provoking treatment of the cultural influences on the stories of girl detectives. The essays, most of them by university professors, include a brief history of the Stratemeyer Syndicate and the creation of Nancy Drew, first published in 1930, and an introduction to the two major authors of the Nancy Drew mysteries, Harriet Stratemeyer Adams and Mildred Wirt Benson. Both wrote under the name of Carolyn Keene and were involved in the corporate collaborative effort of the publisher, writers, and editors who produced books that were meant to entertain but were often questioned by librarians and teachers in terms of their literary value. Other selections examine the issues of race and xenophobia in the series and Nancy's lack of technological knowledge and ability in spite of her strength and intellect and the changing cultural influences on that dearth of knowledge. Other essays look at series about Linda Carlton, Cherry Ames, Trixie Belden, and teen sleuths such as Hermione Granger. A great choice for all who are interested in the evolution of the girl detective in American youth literature.—Rebecca Sheridan, Easttown Library & Information Center, Berwyn, PA
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About the Author

Michael G. Cornelius is chair of the department of English and mass communications at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. In addition to his research on Nancy Drew and other girl sleuths, he specializes in early British literature and has published in several academic journals.

Melanie E. Gregg is an associate professor of French at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Her research is focused primarily on French women writers of the Early Modern period and the twentieth century.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: McFarland (August 19, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786439955
• ISBN-13: 978-0786439959
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,406,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)