Encyclopedia of the Essay

by Tracy Chevalier (Editor)

Overview

This groundbreaking new source of international scope defines the essay as nonfictional prose texts of between one and 50 pages in length. The more than 500 entries by 275 contributors include entries on nationalities, various categories of essays such as generic (such as sermons, aphorisms), individual major works, notable writers, and periodicals that created a market for essays, and particularly famous or significant essays. The preface details the historical development of the essay, and the alphabetically arranged entries usually include biographical sketch, nationality, era, selected writings list, additional readings, and anthologies

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781135314101
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/12/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	1024
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Tracy Chevalier

Hometown:

London, England

Date of Birth:

October 19, 1962

Place of Birth:

Washington, D.C.

Education:

B.A. in English, Oberlin College, 1984; M.A. in creative writing, University of East Anglia, 1994

Website:

http://www.tchevalier.com

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 A; Chapter 2 B; Chapter 3 C; Chapter 4 D; Chapter 5 E; Chapter 6 F; Chapter 7 G; Chapter 8 H; Chapter 9 I; Chapter 10 J; Chapter 11 K; Chapter 12 L; Chapter 13a M; Chapter 14 N; Chapter 15 O; Chapter 16 P; Chapter 17 Q; Chapter 18 R; Chapter 20 T; Chapter 21 U; Chapter 22 V; Chapter 23 W; Chapter 24 Y; Chapter 25 Z;

Editorial Reviews

This is the first encyclopedia devoted entirely to the essay in all its many forms, from Locke's "Essay Concerning Human Understanding" and Pope's "Essay on Man" in verse to more conventional essays by figures such as Montaigne and Thoreau. International in scope, the work focuses on the last few centuries, since that is when the essay emerged as a literary form. There are entries for genres such as "travel essays," for various national traditions, important periodicals, "especially significant single essays," and individual essayists. The entries are well written and insightful, and include extensive bibliographies; the entries for individuals also include succinct biographical sketches. Most of the contributors are academics with impressive credentials. The volume's general editor, Chevalier, earlier edited the excellent Contemporary Poets (St. James, 1991. 5th ed.) and Twentieth Century Children's Writers (St. James, 1989. 3rd ed.). This is an excellent scholarly book that belongs in any library that supports belles-lettres.Peter A. Dollard, Alma Coll. Lib., Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

Library Journal

A hefty one-volume reference addressing various facets of the essay. Entries are of five types: 1) considerations of different types of essay, e.g. moral, travel, autobiographical; 2) discussions of major national traditions; 3) biographical profiles of writers who have produced a significant body of work in the genre; 4) descriptions of periodicals important for their publication of essays; and 5) discussions of some especially significant single essays. Each entry includes citations for further reading and cross references. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

"Scholars and students will find this resource a most useful and welcome addition to academic library collections." — Booklist/RBB
"This is the first encyclopedia devoted entirely to the essay in all its many forms...This is an excellent scholarly book that belongs in any library that supports belles-lettres." — Library Journal
"Indispensable; highly recommended for general and academic readers, all levels." — Choice
"A substantive reference, this work is highly recommended for all collections with a serious interest in literature." — American Reference Books Annual
"All collegiate and research collections, or indeed any institution interested in developing a quality reference collection on literature, should acquire and publicize this volume." — Reference & User Services Quarterly
"Must be regarded as the last work on essayists and their works... an impressive volume of which the editor, the contributors and the publishers may be justly proud." — Reference Reviews

From the Publisher