The Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Literature in English
Grade 7 Up.  As much a browsing book as a source for ready-reference information, this remarkable effort includes a multinational group of authors and a broad range of literary forms originally published in English. To qualify for inclusion, each writer must have lived beyond 1900, published at least three books, and achieved a significant degree of international or national recognition. There are some exceptions: "Literary merit was not the only consideration; national or ethnic identity and a fair representation of the various periods of the twentieth century" were also important. While the earlier books in the "Companions" series focused on straightforward author entries, this title takes a broader approach. Novelists, dramatists, and poets are the key figures, but there are 650 essays on genres, critical concepts, periodicals, and literary groups and movements. (Children's literature is not included.) In addition, this companion clearly conveys the shift of contemporary literature in English to a global or supranational point of view signified by the international success of such novels as Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club (Putnam, 1989) and Toni Morrison's Beloved (Knopf, 1987). An appendix listing literary prizes is included.?Mary H. Cole, Polytechnic Preparatory Country Day School, Brooklyn, NYCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.