Contemporary Southern writers

Library Journal

This attractive volume exhibits all of St. James's editorial hallmarks--crisp typography, an easy-to-use format, a comprehensive title index, notes on advisers and contributors, and an added bonus: a nine-page time line of Southern literary history. Each of the 244 entries provides the author's career highlights, awards, and a contact address, as well as a complete bibliography, including uncollected short works, media adaptations, and critical studies. The signed essays vary in length and coverage of the author's individual works, but each discusses the author in the context of the Southern literary tradition. The authors covered represent nearly all categories--poetry, fiction, plays, humor, children's literature, genres, criticism, and nonfiction--and their reputations range from up-and-coming to legendary. Several of the newer writers are not listed in Contemporary Authors. One drawback is the broad-based definition of a Southern writer. The advisers chose those who were born in, lived in, or had "more than a casual acquaintance" with the South. Thus, writers like Sue Grafton and Richard Ford, whom many would identify as Western writers, are included, while Russell Baker and Edna Buchanan, whose Southern ties are undeniable, are left out. Not essential but recommended for large public and academic libraries, especially in the South.--Vivian Reed, Long Beach P.L., CA

Booknews

Explores contemporary achievements in fiction, poetry, drama, criticism, and nonfiction, i.e. work from writers living in the late 1990s and those recently deceased who published new works into the 1990s. Entries contain biographical data (place and date of birth, education, family, career, awards, agent, and contact information); bibliographic information including titles, location, publisher, original publication date of works, information on media adaptation, manuscript collections, and lists of interviews and critical studies; and a critical essay. Also contains a guest preface by Thomas M. Carlson (U. of the South) and a timeline of Southern literary history. Lacks a subject index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)