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Gale Contextual Encyclopedia of American Literature. Ed. by Anne Marie Hacht and Dwayne D. Hayes. Detroit: Gale, 2009. 4 vols. $495 (ISBN 978-1-414-43130-7).
This four-volume set is an ultracontemporary resource for teaching and learning. The editors state in the introduction that "by understanding the context of the writer's work, you are more likely to recognize key themes and stylistic traits as elements of larger trends in the literary world, as well as understand the impact of historical events from a new and unique perspective" (xxi).
Coverage spans centuries, cultures, and genres. It is not stated how the included authors were selected or what criteria was used. It is also not clear who authored the entries. Responsibility is given only for the project editors and an advisory board composed of four scholars. There is a good balance between classic and contemporary, well-known and lesser-known authors. Many authors of...