African American Literature - by Hans Ostrom & John Macey (Hardcover)

About the Book

This essential volume provides an overview of and introduction to African American writers and literary periods from their beginnings through the 21st century.
This compact encyclopedia, aimed at students, selects the most important authors, literary movements, and key topics for them to know.

Entries cover the most influential and highly regarded African American writers, including novelists, playwrights, poets, and nonfiction writers. The book covers key periods of African American literature--such as the Harlem Renaissance, the Black Arts Movement, and the Civil Rights Era--and touches on the influence of the vernacular, including blues and hip hop.

The volume provides historical context for critical viewpoints including feminism, social class, and racial politics. Entries are organized A to Z and provide biographies that focus on the contributions of key literary figures as well as overviews, background information, and definitions for key subjects.

• Provides an essential introduction to African American writers and topics, from the beginning of the 20th century into the 21st
• Covers the major authors and key topics in African American literature
• Gives students an accessible and approachable overview of African American literature

Book Synopsis

This essential volume provides an overview of and introduction to African American writers and literary periods from their beginnings through the 21st century.

This compact encyclopedia, aimed at students, selects the most important authors, literary movements, and key topics for them to know.

Entries cover the most influential and highly regarded African American writers, including novelists, playwrights, poets, and nonfiction writers. The book covers key periods of African American literature--such as the Harlem Renaissance, the Black Arts Movement, and the Civil Rights Era--and touches on the influence of the vernacular, including blues and hip hop.

The volume provides historical context for critical viewpoints including feminism, social class, and racial politics. Entries are organized A to Z and provide biographies that focus on the contributions of key literary figures as well as overviews, background information, and definitions for key subjects.

Review Quotes

"Highly recommended for high school and undergraduate libraries." --Booklist

"Overall, a useful option for its target audience: students. The entries will be accessible to high schoolers, and possibly younger students, as well as college-level readers, who will learn much from the coverage of varied genres, from mystery, romance, and horror, influenced by African American writers." --Library Journal

"Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates, high school students, and general readers." --Choice

About the Author

Hans A. Ostrom is an award-winning author, poet, and faculty member at the University of Puget Sound.

J. David Macey is a professor of English at the University of Central Oklahoma.