The Cambridge Companion to American Modernism

The Cambridge Companion to American Modernism provides a comprehensive and authoritative overview of American literary modernism from 1890 to 1939. These original essays by twelve distinguished scholars of international reputation offer critical overviews of the major genres, literary culture, and social contexts that define the current state of Modern American literature and cultural studies. Among the diverse topics covered are nationalism, race, gender and the impact of music and visual arts on literary modernism, as well as overviews of the achievements of American modernism in fiction, poetry and drama. The book concludes with a chapter on modern American criticism. An essential reference guide to the field, the Companion offers readers a chronology of key events and publication dates covering the first half of the twentieth century in the United States, and an up-to-date bibliography of further reading organized by chapter topics.

• Twelve original and accessible essays by leading experts on American modernism • Pays full attention to the critical issues as well as the social and cultural contexts of modernist poetry, prose and drama • The Companion features 14 illustrations, a chronology, and a substantial guide to further reading

Chronology; Introduction Walter Kalaidjian; 1. Nationalism and the modern American canon Mark Morrisson; Part I. Genre: 2. Modern American fiction Rita Barnard; 3. Modern American poetry Cary Nelson; 4. Modern American drama Stephen Watt; Part II. Culture: 5. American modernism and the New Negro Renaissance Mark Sanders; 6. Jazz and American modernism Jed Rasula; 7. Visual culture Michael North; 8. The avant-garde phase of American modernism Marjorie Perloff; Part III. Society: 9. Gender and sexuality Janet Lyon; 10. Regionalism and American modernism John Duvall; 11. Social representations of American modernism Paula Rabinowitz; 12. Modern American literary criticism Douglas Mao; Guide to further reading; Index.

\'… a helpful book, likely to be of use to students and scholars in disciplines like cultural and literary studies and much else.\' Reference Reviews