Contemporary
Gay American Novelists by Emmanuel S. Nelson
(Editor)
Though wary of canon-formation in this
groundbreaking work, editor Nelson has selected fifty-seven gay
American fiction writers whose works have received critical
acclaim. Writers and their works are examined in the gay literary
context and a majority of the contributing essayists are
themselves gay male scholars and writers, who bring with them a
level of personal and political sensitivity that is generally
lacking in assessments of this literature. Each entry begins with
biographical information, proceeds to an interpretive summary of
major works, provides an overview of critical reception, and
concludes with bibliographies of primary and secondary materials.
In a lively and perceptive introductory essay, Bredbeck inquires
into what we mean by "gay literature" and the inherent
tensions in these terms.
"This book would be strongly recommended if
for no other reason than that so little has been published about
most of the novelists. It is important for providing analysis
unavailable elsewhere." -- Choice
About the Author
Emmanuel W. Nelson is Associate Professor of English at the State
University of New York College at Cortland.
