A History of American Literature : 1950 to the Present

* __The History of American Literature from 1950 to the Present__ offers a comprehensive analysis of the wide range of literary works that extends into the 21st century * Covers drama, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, science fiction, and detective novels * Features discussion of American works within the context of such 21st-century issues as globalization, medicine, gender, education, and other topics Content: Chapter 1 Locating Contemporary Literature (pages 1–45): Chapter 2 The Sixties and the Necessities of Change (pages 47–78): Chapter 3 Conventions and Eruptions (pages 79–138): Chapter 4 New Ages and Old (pages 139–173): Chapter 5 The 1980s, Ethnicity and Change (pages 175–224): Chapter 6 The 1990s and the Sexual (pages 225–276): Chapter 7 The Twenty?First Century (pages 277–351): A HISTORY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE 1950 TO THE PRESENT Featuring works from notable authors as varied as Salinger and the Beats to Vonnegut, Capote, Morrison, Rich, Walker, Eggers, and DeLillo, A History of American Literature: 1950 to the Present offers a comprehensive analysis of the wide range of literary works produced in the United States over the last six decades and a fascinating survey of the dramatic changes during America's transition from the innocence of the fifties to the harsh realities of the first decade of the new millennium. Author Linda Wagner-Martin - a highly acclaimed authority on all facets of modern American literature - covers major works of drama, poetry, fiction, non- fiction, memoirs, and popular genres such as science fiction and detective novels. Viewing works produced during this fertile literary period from a wide-ranging perspective, Wagner-Martin considers literature in relation to such issues as the politics of civil rights, feminism, sexual preferences, and race- and gender-based marketing. She also places a special emphasis on works produced during the twenty-first century, and writings influenced by recent historic events such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and the global financial crisis. With its careful balance of scholarly precision and accessibility, A History of American Literature: 1950 to the Present provides readers of all levels with rich and revealing insights into the diversity of literary forms and influences that characterize postmodern America. “A monumental distillation of an enormous range of material, Wagner-Martin's rich book should be required reading for anyone grappling with making sense of the prolific, broad-spectrum, and diverse writing in the US since 1950.”Thadious M. Davis, University of Pennsylvania “Linda Wagner-Martin's history impressively and judiciously surveys all fields of American writing over the past sixty years, taking full account of significant cultural and historical contexts and the major critical commentaries that have helped shape our understanding of developments in the second half of the last century and the dozen years following the millennium. Balanced, informative, and always highly readable there is much here for general readers, students, and specialists alike.”Christopher MacGowan, the College of William and Mary A HISTORY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE 1950 TO THE PRESENT Featuring works from notable authors as varied as Salinger and the Beats to Vonnegut, Capote, Morrison, Rich, Walker, Eggers, and DeLillo, A History of American 1950 to the Present offers a comprehensive analysis of the wide range of literary works produced in the United States over the last six decades and a fascinating survey of the dramatic changes during Americas transition from the innocence of the fifties to the harsh realities of the first decade of the new millennium. Author Linda Wagner-Martin - a highly acclaimed authority on all facets of modern American literature - covers major works of drama, poetry, fiction, non- fiction, memoirs, and popular genres such as science fiction and detective novels. Viewing works produced during this fertile literary period from a wide-ranging perspective, Wagner-Martin considers literature in relation to such issues as the politics of civil rights, feminism, sexual preferences, and race- and gender-based marketing. She also places a special emphasis on works produced during the twenty-first century, and writings influenced by recent historic events such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and the global financial crisis. With its careful balance of scholarly precision and accessibility, A History of American 1950 to the Present provides readers of all levels with rich and revealing insights into the diversity of literary forms and influences that characterize postmodern America. A monumental distillation of an enormous range of material, Wagner-Martins rich book should be required reading for anyone grappling with making sense of the prolific, broad-spectrum, and diverse writing in the US since 1950. Thadious M. Davis, University of Pennsylvania Linda Wagner-Martins history impressively and judiciously surveys all fields of American writing over the past sixty years, taking full account of significant cultural and historical contexts and the major critical commentaries that have helped shape our understanding of developments in the second half of the last century and the dozen years following the millennium. Balanced, informative, and always highly readable there is much here for general readers, students, and specialists alike. Christopher MacGowan, the College of William and Mary The History Of American Literature From 1950 To The Present Offers A Comprehensive Analysis Of The Wide Range Of Literary Works That Extends Into The 21st Century. It Covers Drama, Poetry, Fiction, Non-fiction, Memoirs, Science Fiction, And Detective Novels. This Book Features Discussion Of American Works Within The Context Of Such 21st-century Issues As Globalization, Medicine, Gender, Education, And Other Topics.--publisher's Website. Locating Contemporary Literature. American Poetry During The 1950s ; Poems Of The Mind And The Body ; The Farthest Edge: The Beats And The Confessional School ; American Theater During The 1950s ; American Fiction During The 1950s ; Fiction And The War ; Class And Sexuality In The Novel ; The Novel, Jewish And Southern. -- The Sixties And The Necessities Of Change. Theater Of The 1960s ; African American Writing In The 1960s ; 1960s Fiction, Mainstream Markers ; Feminism. -- Conventions And Eruptions. Poetry Of The Anti-war And Feminist Years ; Feminist Fictions ; Postmodern Fictions ; Science Fiction And Alternative Worlds ; The New Journalism ; Theater During The 1970s. -- New Ages And Old. Memoir: Another New Direction ; Crime And Detective Fiction, American Style ;theater During The 1980s. -- The 1980s, Ethnicity And Change. Asian American Writing ; Native American Writing ; Mexican American Writing (i.e., Latino/latina) ; African American Writing ; Poetry In The 1980s ; Fiction In The 1980s. -- The 1990s And The Sexual. Sexual Preferences And Social/legal Issues ; Theater Of The 1990s ; The Poem At The Turn Into The Twenty-first Century ; Story At The Turn Into The Twenty-first Century ; Southern Literature At The Turn Into The Twenty-first Century. -- The Twenty-first Century. The Story Of 9/11 And Its Aftermath ; Theater 2000-2010 ; Poetry 2000-2010 ; Memoir And Life-writing 2000-2010 ; Fiction 2000-2010. Linda Wagner-martin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Chapter 3 Conventions and EruptionsPoetry of the Anti-War and Feminist Years; Feminist Fictions; Postmodern Fictions; Science Fiction and Alternative Worlds; The New Journalism; Theater During the 1970s; Chapter 4 New Ages and Old; Memoir: Another New Direction; Crime and Detective Fiction, American Style; Theater During the 1980s; Chapter 5 The 1980s, Ethnicity and Change; Asian American Writing; Native American Writing; Mexican American Writing (i.e., Latino/Latina); African American Writing; Poetry in the 1980s; Fiction in the 1980s; Chapter 6 The 1990s and the Sexual A History of American Literature; Contents; Illustrations; Preface; Chapter 1 Locating Contemporary Literature; American Poetry During the 1950s; A. Poems of the Mind and the Body; B. The Farthest Edge: The Beats and the Confessional School; American Theater During the 1950s; American Fiction During the 1950s; A. Fiction and the War; B. Class and Sexuality in the Novel; C. The Novel, Jewish and Southern; Chapter 2 The Sixties and the Necessities of Change; Theater of the 1960s; African American Writing in the 1960s; 1960s Fiction, Mainstream Markers; Feminism Sexual Preferences and Social/Legal IssuesTheater of the 1990s; The Poem at the Turn into the Twenty-First Century; Story at the Turn into the Twenty-First Century; Southern Literature at the Turn into the Twenty-First Century; Chapter 7 The Twenty-First Century; The Story of 9/11 and Its Aftermath; Theater 2000-2010; Poetry 2000-2010; Memoir and Life-Writing 2000-2010; Fiction 2000-2010; References; Index Offers a comprehensive analysis of a range of literary works that extends into the 21st century. This book covers drama, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, science fiction, and detective novels. It features discussion of American works within the context of such 21st-century issues as globalization, medicine, gender, education, and more.