Each of the more than 280 volumes in this long-standing series profiles approximately three to six novelists, poets, playwrights, journalists, philosophers, or other creative and nonfiction writers by providing full-text or excerpted criticism reproduced from books, magazines, literary reviews, newspapers, and scholarly journals. Clear, accessible introductory essays followed by carefully selected critical responses allow end-users to engage with a variety of scholarly views and conversations about authors, works, and literary topics. Introductory essays are written and entries compiled by professional literature researchers and other subject matter experts. A full citation and annotation precede each of the approximately 50 essays per volume; many include an author portrait. The series currently covers more than 1,000 authors and also includes numerous entries focusing on literary topics and individual works.
Student's writing papers or class presentations, instructors preparing their syllabi, or anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the 20th century will find this a highly useful resource.