Asian American Autobiographers: A Bio-Bibliographical Critical Sourcebook (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780313314087)

Asian Americans have made many significant contributions to industry, science, politics, and the arts. At the same time, they have made great sacrifices and endured enormous hardships. This reference examines autobiographies and memoirs written by Asian Americans in the twentieth century. Included are alphabetically arranged entries on 60 major autobiographers of Asian descent. Some of these, such as Meena Alexander and Maxine Hong Kingston, are known primarily for their writings; others, such as Daniel K. Inouye, are known largely for other achievements, which they have chronicled in their autobiographies.

Each entry is written by an expert contributor and provides a reliable account of the autobiographer's life; reviews major autobiographical works and themes, including fictionalized autobiographies and autobiographical novels; presents a meticulously researched account of the critical reception of these works; and closes with a bibliography of primary and secondary sources. An introductory essay considers the history and development of autobiography in American literature and culture and discusses issues and themes vital to Asian American autobiographies and memoirs, such as family, diaspora, nationhood, identity, cultural assimilation, racial dynamics, and the formation of the Asian American literary canon. The volume closes with a selected bibliography.

Author: Guiyou Huang
ISBN-10: 031331408X
ISBN-13: 9780313314087
Publisher: Greenwood
Language: English
Published: 05/30/2001
Pages: 464
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.80lbs
Size: 9.60h x 6.54w x 1.06d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 12/01/2001 pg. 658
Reference and Research Bk News 11/01/2001 pg. 233