Native American Literatures: An Encyclopedia of Works, Characters, Authors, and Themes
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Overview
The earliest Native American writers wrote tribal histories or autobiographical accounts. Today, Native American writing is steeped in the oral traditions of many peoples and reflects a facility with language that is equally at home in prose or poetry.
Native American Literatures is a sourcebook that can enhance any reader's appreciation of both the writers and their works. Cross referencing allows readers to move easily among the listings, guiding them to other examples of an author's works and from character to character within a given novel.
"This current, affordable title covers Native American poetry, fiction, and prose. It lists more than 300 alphabetically arranged entries, divided into four types: individual authors, individual works, important characters in works, and terms or events of historical importance. Summaries and interpretive information on texts that would be of use to high school and undergraduate students are provided. This volume would be a useful addition to public and academic libraries."----"Outstanding reference sources 2000", American Libraries, May 2000. Comp. by the Reference Sources Committee, RUSA, ALA.
Synopsis
The earliest Native American writers wrote tribal histories or autobiographical accounts. Today, Native American writing is steeped in the oral traditions of many peoples and reflects a facility with language that is equally at home in prose or poetry.
Native American Literatures is a sourcebook that can enhance any reader's appreciation of both the writers and their works. Cross referencing allows readers to move easily among the listings, guiding them to other examples of an author's works and from character to character within a given novel.
VOYA
Authors, characters, themes, and works related to Native American literature are arranged alphabetically in this reference covering the period from the eighteenth century through the present. With illustrations, photographs, and historical reproductions to enhance the text, Whitson thoroughly discusses many significant authors that high school or undergraduate students might study. There are more than twenty references for N. Scott Momaday, and Louise Erdrich is cited in more than forty. Leslie Marmon Silko, Mourning Dove, Paula Gunn Allen, and James Welch are among others included. This collection falls short of expectations. When compared to other bibliographies of native literature, the breadth of total authors and works covered are as few as 70 percent of the short list from NativeLitL Booklist. Not included are authors such as Jamake Highwater, William Least Heat Moon, and Tony Hillerman. The work also is marred by the omission of an entry for either Susan Powers or Charles Alexander Eastman, yet numerous citations of their work are included. This resource also would be more useful if all character references to a single work were grouped together or crossreferenced by subject or motif. Look instead to other sources such as Roots and Branches: A Resource of Native American Literature (NCTE, 1998) or Contemporary Native American Authors: A Biographical Dictionary (Fulcrum, 1997). Index. Illus. Photos. Biblio. 1999, ABCCLIO, Ages 12 to 18, 295p. PLB $65. Reviewer: Ann T. ReddyDamon
Editorials
From the Publisher
"Highly recommended for all high school and college reference collections."
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Library Journal
"Whitson's title is unique for its focus on literary characters … and a necessary addition to libraries at institutions teaching American Indian literature … and literature by women of color."
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Choice
"This thoughtful overview will support research on a novel, an author, or the literature."
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School Library Journal
"This volume would be a useful addition to public and academic libraries."
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American Libraries
VOYA
Authors, characters, themes, and works related to Native American literature are arranged alphabetically in this reference covering the period from the eighteenth century through the present. With illustrations, photographs, and historical reproductions to enhance the text, Whitson thoroughly discusses many significant authors that high school or undergraduate students might study. There are more than twenty references for N. Scott Momaday, and Louise Erdrich is cited in more than forty. Leslie Marmon Silko, Mourning Dove, Paula Gunn Allen, and James Welch are among others included. This collection falls short of expectations. When compared to other bibliographies of native literature, the breadth of total authors and works covered are as few as 70 percent of the short list from NativeLitL Booklist. Not included are authors such as Jamake Highwater, William Least Heat Moon, and Tony Hillerman. The work also is marred by the omission of an entry for either Susan Powers or Charles Alexander Eastman, yet numerous citations of their work are included. This resource also would be more useful if all character references to a single work were grouped together or crossreferenced by subject or motif. Look instead to other sources such as Roots and Branches: A Resource of Native American Literature (NCTE, 1998) or Contemporary Native American Authors: A Biographical Dictionary (Fulcrum, 1997). Index. Illus. Photos. Biblio. 1999, ABCCLIO, Ages 12 to 18, 295p. PLB $65. Reviewer: Ann T. ReddyDamonGr 9 Up-An introduction to the literature of Native Americans from the 18th century to the present. In addition to novels and poetry, which are well represented, the alphabetical entries include sermons, autobiographical sources, and issues and policies. Important topics such as boarding schools, racism, and storytelling are also covered. Cross-references appear throughout the book. There are some interesting omissions in the index, including reservation life and the subject of mixed-blood characters and authors. Black-and-white photographs accompany the text and a lengthy bibliography concludes the volume. This thoughtful overview will support research on a novel, an author, or the literature.-Mary B. McCarthy, ACLIN/Colorado State Library Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
Emphasizing the wide range of genres and approaches among Native American writers, entries consider mostly North American literature from the earliest accounts of conversion to Christianity to such recent short story collections as and novelists and poets such as Linda Hogan, Louise Erdrich, Simon Ortiz, and James Welch. They also discuss terms and events, among them the General Allotment Act of 1887, the Ghost Dance, and Native American autobiography. Well cross-referenced. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)