American Ethnic Literatures

American Indian Culture and Research Journal

...unique...offers a short and comprehensive list of works, which is definitely convenient....

Booklist

...an important reference tool for all secondary and undergraduate literature collections...a welcome volume that can enhance the study of America's multi-ethnic traditions.

Reference Books Bulletin

...an important reference tool for all secondary and undergraduate literature collections...a welcome volume that can enhance the study of America's multi-ethnic traditions..

From The Critics

This new title in the Magill Bibliographies series is a scholarly endeavor to provide a guide to the array of creative and scholarly works in the four major American ethnic literatures. Focusing on Native Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans, Peck has prepared a bibliographic survey of these ethnic traditions that enhances literary, ethnic, and American studies The opening chapter of the work is an annotated listing of reference sources, bibliographies, and key journals for ethnic studies. Included here are both general titles, such as "We the People: An Atlas of America's Ethnic Diversity", and works on specific groups, such as "Bibliographic Guide to Black Studies". The second chapter is a presentation of major studies that address the social and historical records for these groups in American society, beginning with general works on theories of race, immigration history, textbooks, and collections of essays and concluding with major historical studies of each specific group. The third chapter is devoted to "Teaching Ethnic Literature" and lists journals, teaching guides, anthologies of comparative ethnic literatures, and guides to audiovisual materials. The fourth chapter lists general studies of ethnic literature and is subdivided into sections on such topics as biography, fiction, and theater The largest portion of the book is devoted to separate chapters for the literature of each ethnic minority. These include a brief narrative history of the literary tradition, a selected list of primary works, and a bibliography of the major critical studies. These chapters provide short annotations for full-length works, including general sources, major anthologies, and secondary studies. Also included are unannotated lists of works by ethnic minority writers. The volume concludes with an index that is an excellent aid to its usefulness "American Ethnic Literatures" provides a bibliography, in a single volume, where instructors, students, and librarians can glean listings of the major primary literature in the four ethnic traditions, as well as sources for literary criticism and background studies. The volume reflects not only primary sources, but also the historical and social context for each group's literary tradition. Not only is this an important reference tool for all secondary and undergraduate literature collections, it is a timely resource that addresses a need in this multicultural society. Education and librarianship are responsive to the subject of ethnic diversity, and this new title is a welcome volume that can enhance the study of America's multiethnic traditions.