The Chronology of American Literature: America's Literary Achievements from the Colonial Era to Modern Times
Grade 9 Up–This hefty, reliable, and readable tome documents the development of U.S. letters from their practical, tendentious origins to the end of the 20th century. As the brief introduction explains, the editors include various representative works, not merely critically acclaimed texts. Johnny Gruelle is in with "Raggedy Ann," and so is E. B. White (but not William Steig or Russell Hoban). Robert Heinlein, Scott Turow, Stephen King, Sue Grafton, John Grisham, and Rod McKuen all appear. Essay overviews precede the year-by-year listings in each of five sections (1582-1789, 1790-1860, 1861-1914, 1915-'49, 1950-'99). They assume familiarity with basic historical facts, but provide social and political contexts. Sidebars give birth/death dates and prize and bestseller lists, again expanding the volume's scope beyond literary heights. Except for the first section, where scarcity of imaginative forms leads to inclusion of diaries, letters, and sermons, all sections include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, literary criticism, and the catch-all "publications and events" (e.g., the founding ofThe American Scholarand of the Folger Library). The earlier sections are a mine for browsing. With the last decade(s), however, readers might pick some fights: Why omit Charles Baxter, Larry Watson, Lan Samantha Chang, Ward Just, Jonathan Franzen, Mark Salzman, and Wally Lamb? There are sporadic black-and-white author photos and reproductions. This volume's scope, accuracy, and accessibility are hard to resist: it supercedes Richard M. Ludwig and Clifford A. Nault, Jr.'sAnnals of American Literature, 1602-1983(Oxford, 1989; o.p.).–Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.