Contemporary Poets, Dramatists, Essayists, and Novelists of the South

From the early 20th century to the present, Southern literary talent has flourished. The newer poets, dramatists, essayists, and novelists of this region often use their writings to explore the changing social values of the South, while also drawing upon traditional Southern values and culture. This reference work is a guide to the writings of 50 contemporary Southern poets, dramatists, essayists, and novelists.Many of the authors profiled in this volume have established themselves as writers of lasting significance. However, the book also profiles the careers and work of authors who are emerging only now as masters of their art. Each chapter in this book is devoted to a single author, and arranged alphabetically for the reader's convenience. Each is written by an expert on the author, and includes a biographical sketch, a discussion of major themes, a survey of criticism, and a bibliography of works by and about the author. An introductory essay overviews modern Southern writing, and a selected, general bibliography concludes the work.

...Highly recommended for all public and academic libraries. Choice

PrefaceIntroductionMaya Angelou by Lucinda H. MacKethanJames Applewhite by George S. LensingDaphne Athas by Harriette Cuttino BuchananGerald [William] Barrax by Lucy K. HaydenWendell Berry by Edward B. SmithRoy [Alton] Blount, Jr. by Merritt W. Moseley, Jr.David Bottoms by Peter StittFred Chappell by David Paul RaganAlice Childress by La Vinia Delois JenningsJames Duff by Susan GilbertWilma Dykeman by Patricia M. Gantt and Chip JonesCharles Edward Eaton by Glenn BlalockLonne Elder III by John SekoraPeter Steinam Feibleman by Randal WoodlandJulia Fields by Sara Andrews JohnstonGeorge Garrett by R.H.W. DillardNikki Giovanni by Patsy B. PerryElizabeth Hardwick by Susan V. DonaldsonWilliam Harmon by Marlene YoumansBeth Henley by Hilary HolladayPreston Jones by Kimball KingDonald Justice by James A. Grimshaw, Jr.Florence King by Kathryn VanSpanckerenEtheridge Knight by D. Soyini MadisonLeRoy Leatherman by Alan T. BelschesSusan Ludvigson by Judy Jo SmallDavid Madden by Jeffrey H. RichardsJeff Daniel Marion by Lynne P. ShackelfordHeather Ross Miller by Bes Stark SpanglerJim Wayne Miller by Joyce DyerWilliam Mills by William Grimes Cherry IIIRobert Morgan by William HarmonWillie Morris by Julius Rowan RaperMarsha Norman by Billy J. Harbin and Jill Stapleton BergeronGuy Owen by Mary C. WilliamsIshmael Reed by Jerry W. Ward, Jr.George Addison Scarbrough by Robert L. PhillipsJames Seay by William AarnesEve Shelnutt by Elsa NettelsDave Smith by Corrinne HalesR. T. Smith by Linda WeldenDabney Stuart by Gilbert AllenHenry [Splawn] Taylor by Elizabeth McGeachy MillsRichard [Williford] Tillinghast by Ed IngebretsenMargaret Walker by Mary Hughes BrookhartJames Whitehead by Thomas E. DasherJonathan Williams by John E. BassettMiller Williams by Timothy Dow AdamsTom Wolfe by Daphne H. O'BrienCharles Wright by Margaret Mills HarperAppendicesGeneral BibliographyIndexContributors