1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910824520803321

Autore

Tillett Rebecca

Titolo

Contemporary Native American literature / / Rebecca Tillett

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Edinburgh : , : Edinburgh University Press, , [2022]

©2007

ISBN

1-4744-7326-1

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (184 p.)

Collana

BAAS Paperbacks : BAAS

Disciplina

897

Soggetti

American literature - Indian authors - History and criticism

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di contenuto

Frontmatter -- Contents -- 1 Introduction -- 2 The Emergence and Development of Native American Literature -- 3 Seminal Writers: N. Scott Momaday, James Welch and Leslie Marmon Silko -- 4 Writing Women: Louise Erdrich, Anna Lee Walters and Luci Tapahonso, 1980–2000 -- 5 Tricksters and Critics: Simon Ortiz, Louis Owens and Gerald Vizenor, 1980–2000 -- 6 Extending the Canon: Recent Native Writing -- Bibliography and Further Reading -- Index

Sommario/riassunto

This introduction to contemporary Native American literature is suitable for students with little or no knowledge of the subject, or of Native American culture or history. It examines influential texts in the context of the historical moment of their production, with reference to significant literary developments. Most importantly, Native literature is assessed within the wider socio-political context of American colonialism, the history of Federal-Indian relations and policies, popular perceptions of 'Indians', and contemporary Native economic, social, and political realities. A survey of early Native literature provides the framework for considering the development of Native writings throughout the twentieth century. Focusing primarily upon late twentieth-century writings, the study begins with the moment that is widely defined as marking the 'renaissance' of contemporary Native American literature: the awarding of the 1969 Pulitzer Prize to the Kiowa writer N. Scott Momaday for his novel House Made of Dawn. The subsequent analysis of key writers and texts includes a biography and



brief bibliographical survey of each writer's work, with a detailed analysis of one text considered to be particularly important in the field, and considerations of significant topics such as cultural translation, humour, gender, and the role of the reader. The study concludes with an overview of current developments and emerging writers. Key Feature Detailed historical context for writers and texts Writers and texts situated within developments in Native politics Inclusion of significant writers often excluded from textbooks Equal balance between coverage of poetry and prose Clear discussion of gender issues and importance of the medium of film Comprehensive analysis of recent developments and emerging writers