The Cambridge Companion to the African American Novel presents new essays covering the one hundred and fifty
year history of the African American novel. Experts in the field from the US and Europe address some of the major
issues in the genre: passing, the Protest novel, the Blues novel, and womanism among others. The essays are full
of fresh insights for students into the symbolic, aesthetic, and political function of canonical and non-canonical
fiction. Chapters examine works by Ralph Ellison, Leon Forrest, Toni Morrison, Ishmael Reed, Alice Walker, John
Edgar Wideman, and many others. They reflect a range of critical methods intended to prompt new and experienced
readers to consider the African American novel as a cultural and literary act of extraordinary significance. This
volume, including a chronology and guide to further reading, is an important resource for students and teachers
alike.
A unique overview of African American writing which will be of interest to students and teachers
Examines a wide range of topics including slavery, the blues novel, the Harlem Renaissance, the protest novel
and contemporary novels
Written by a team of carefully selected authors from Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and the USA, representing
a variety of critical trends and scholarly backgrounds