The Cambridge Companion to the African American Novel [Paperback]

This Companion presents new essays covering the one hundred and fifty year history of the African American novel.The Cambridge Companion to the African American Novel presents landmark essays combining new and current scholarship covering one hundred fifty years of novel writing in the U.S. These newly commissioned essays examine eighty African American novels-the well-known and those recently recovered or acknowledged--grouped in terms of theme, structure, period, and influence, and in terms of their relationship to relevant traditions. Discussions of the slave narrative, coming of age, vernacular modernism, and the post-colonial novel are intended to help readers gain a better appreciation of the novel's diversity and complexity.The Cambridge Companion to the African American Novel presents landmark essays combining new and current scholarship covering one hundred fifty years of novel writing in the U.S. These newly commissioned essays examine eighty African American novels-the well-known and those recently recovered or acknowledged--grouped in terms of theme, structure, period, and influence, and in terms of their relationship to relevant traditions. Discussions of the slave narrative, coming of age, vernacular modernism, and the post-colonial novel are intended to help readers gain a better appreciation of the novel's diversity and complexity.Combining scholarship covering one hundred fifty years of novel writing in the U.S., newly commissioned essays examine eighty African American novels. They include well-known works as well as writings recently recovered or acknowledged. The collection features essays on the slave narrative, coming of age, vernacular modernism, and the post-colonial novel to help readers gain a better appreciation of the African American novel's diversity and complexity.Notes on contributors; Chronology; Introduction Maryemma Graham; Part I. The Long Journey: The African American Novel and History: 1. Freeing the voice, creating the self:l$