Dictionary of Native American Literature

by Andrew Wiget (Editor)

Overview

The Dictionary of Native American Literature is a unique, comprehensive, and authoritative guide to the oral and written literatures of Native Americans. It lays the perfect foundation for understanding the works of Native. The book features reports on the oral traditions of various tribes and topics such as the relation of the Bible, dreams, oratory, humor, autobiography, and federal land policies to Native American literature. Eight additional essays cover teaching Native American literature, new fiction, new theater, and other important topics, and there are bio-critical essays on more than 40 writers ranging from William Apes (who in the early 19th century denounced white society's treatment of his people) to contemporary poet Ray Young Bear. Packed with information that was once scattered and scarce, the Dictionary of Native American Literature -a valuable one-volume resource-is sure to appeal to everyone interested in Native American history, culture, and literature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781135582487
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/25/1994
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	616
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Wiget, Andrew

Table of Contents

List of Figures, Introduction, Advisory Board and Contributors, Native American Oral Literatures, The Historical Emergence of Native American Writing, A Native American Renaissance: 1967 to the Present, Index

Editorial Reviews

This dictionary, produced by the Association for the Study of American Indian Literature, contains 40 critical-biographical essays on various writers spanning two time periods: the historical emergence of Native American writers (to 1800) and the Native American Renaissance (1967-). In addition to the biographical essays, there are more than 20 essays covering historical, literary, and cultural aspects such as the dream song and narrative. This organization of informational and biographical essays within major time periods will aid the user in understanding the context of an individual's writing. Each essay is signed and includes a lengthy bibliography, all of which will help collection development librarians seeking either to create or enhance a North American Indian literature collection. While there are good collections of North American Indian writing and criticism, among them Clouds Threw This Light (1983) and Native American Discourse: Poetics and Rhetoric (Cambridge Univ. Pr., 1987), no current books match this work; perhaps New Voices in Native American Literary Criticism (Smithsonian Institution Pr., 1993) comes closest with its mix of essays, discussions of authors, and ethnocritiques. Highly recommended for libraries with multicultural collections and for all other libraries where there is a perceived need.-Neal Wyatt, Richmond, Va.

Library Journal

A comprehensive guide to the oral and written literatures of Native Americans, produced by scholars of the Association for the Study of American Indian Literatures. It features some 40 substantive biographical and critical essays on individual authors that assess two centuries of writing in English by Native Americans from Samson Occom to Roberta Hill Whiteman. In addition, some 20 topical essays provide the necessary historical and cultural perspective for understanding the relationship of these writings to Native American oral traditions and other American literary traditions. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

In 1969, when N. Scott Momaday received the Pulitzer Prize for his "House Made of Dawn", academics searching for new worlds to explore turned their eyes to the virgin territory of Native American literature. Since that time they have struggled to apply Euro-American techniques of literary criticism as they have grappled with issues of authenticity, authorship, and oral versus written literature This book, edited by Wiget of New Mexico State University with the help of an advisory board, contains more than 70 essays by 52 members of the Association for the Study of American Indian Literatures. Do not be misled by the title--entries are not alphabetically arranged. Instead, scholarly essays are arranged by historical period: Native American oral literature, Indian writing to 1967, and from 1967 to the present. Each of the sections begins with an introductory essay by an advisory board member. The signed articles that follow, by scholars from the fields of anthropology, folklore, literature, and Native American studies, are readable and well researched. Each contains a helpful bibliography of primary and secondary sources. A single index combines subjects, authors, and titles The section on Native American oral literatures contains articles on such topics as the oral literature of specific regions, Native American tricksters, and myth and religion. The section on the emergence of Native American writing to 1967 covers such topics as women's autobiography and humor, followed by articles on specific authors (e.g., Black Elk, C. A Eastman, D'Arcy McNickle). The final section has essays on such topics as teaching Indian literature and critical approaches to Native American literature, followed by articles on such authors as Vine Deloria, Louise Erdrich, N. S. Momaday, Leslie Marmon Silko, and James Welch. A few topical articles on issues such as Indian policy are included in order to provide background material This reference work has breath and depth enough to satisfy most users. Each of the introductory essays is a gem. Wiget's essay on oral literature has an accessible explanation of mimetic, genetic, and intertextual poles. Although this work could easily be used as a textbook, academic libraries, many high-school libraries, and all libraries with collections of Native American studies will need a copy.

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