I. Print Materials Books Bradstreet, A., & Hensley, J. (2010). The Works of Anne Bradstreet.

Cambridge, Mass: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. Considered to be the first American poet by many scholars, Anne Bradstreets works are essential to any American literature collection. Both Thomas E. Johnston and Ralph J. Mills review the original edition as the best collection of Bradstreet poems so far, and the fact that it has been reprinted more recently suggests that it continues to be so. Johnston writes that it is complete, accurate, clear, thoroughly documented, helpfully arranged, [and] tastefully printed; Mills reviews it as being very readable and authoritatively edited and introduced. This book is owned by the American College of Greece and the American University of Rome. Ferguson, R. A. (1997). The American Enlightenment, 1750-1820. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. Ferguson examines the American Revolution in light of its literature, arguing that the writings during this time were important factors that motivated both sides to act. At the same time, however, he notes the irony of American writers demanding freedom while exploiting Native Americans and African Americans, and denying rights to women. Ferguson is successful with this arguments; Carl Dimitri concludes his review with: [Ferguson] shows that freedom and domination emanated from the same source. Gavin Cologne-Brooks is impressed by the variety of sources that Ferguson draws upon, including those from women writers and black writers. This book is owned by the Lebanese American University, the American University in Bulgaria, and the American University of Paris. Fitzgerald, F. S., & Bruccoli, M. J. (1991). The Great Gatsby. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Bruccolis edition of this American classic contains one of the first manuscripts that Fitzgerald wrote as well as the first edition of the completed work. Douglas Hewitt reviews this edition as sound and handsome, though he expresses his disappointment in the fact that the manuscripts between the ones presented in Bruccolis book have been lost. This book is owned by the American College of Greece, the American University in Cairo, and the American University of Paris. Hayes, K. J. (2008). The Oxford Handbook of Early American Literature. Oxford: Oxford University Press. This book contains American literature from the colonial era to 1790. Hayes begins with documents pertaining to the first forays into the New World and moves on to cover diverse writings, including selections by the Puritans, captivity narratives, selections from

the Great Awakening, and writings by Benjamin Franklin and other Founding Fathers. J.S.D. describes this book as excellent. While John C. Shields is less impressed with the handbooknamely because Hayes concentrates more on the prose of this era than on poetryhe does concede that this handbook is a welcome arrival to American literature collections. Certainly, the shortcomings of the handbook may be made-up for by other materials in the collection. It is owned by the American University of Sharjah and NYU Abu Dhabi. Kilcup, K. L. (2000). Native American Womens Writing: c. 1800-1924, an anthology. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers. Kilcups anthology offers a variety of worksspeeches, poems, memoirs, letters, stories, and songswritten by an early minority group: Native American women. The anthology provides context and bibliographies for further research. Many of the materials that Kilcup includes are out of print or otherwise hard to find, which makes this anthology indispensible for a collection that is set on providing accounts from all voices in American literature. Margo Lukens reviews the book as important, noting that it is the first to focus on Native American women from this early period. It is owned by John Cabot University in Rome. Leiter, S. (2007). Critical Companion to Emily Dickinson: A Literary Reference to her Life and Work. New York, NY: Facts on File. Emily Dickinson is one of the best-known American women poets. Leiters book contains a wealth of information regarding Dickinson herself, her works, her acquaintances, and the social and cultural contexts in which she wrote. Jane Donahue Eberwein lauds this work as an enthrallingly readable book of exceptional amplitude and understanding. Denise Johnson writes that while there are other reference books on Dickinson that are helpful to students, Leiters work is a more straightforward reference guide that is effectively organized, thus making it a valuable addition to every library. This book is owned by the American University of Greece and the American University of Sharjah. Link, E. C. (2004). The Vast and Terrible Drama: American Literary Naturalism in the Late Nineteenth Century. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. Link examines American naturalism, arguing that rather than being a part of the realism movement that was also going on during the same time period, naturalism had more connections to antebellum romanticism. Rather than examining specific works, Link provides a broad look at naturalism. According to Stacey Margolis review in American Studies, this factor makes it a good introduction to naturalist writers [and] to some of the central concerns of literary scholars in this field. S.M. Nurenberg recommends Links book for all collections. It is owned by the Lebanese American University and the American University in Cairo. Myerson, J. (2000). Transcendentalism: A Reader. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Myersons collection of Transcendentalist readers contains the works of some of the greatest authors of the time, including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Louisa May Alcott. Ulrich Baer highly recommends Myersons anthology, calling it indispensable and a magnificent edition. This book is owned by the Lebanese American University. Pennell, M. M. F. (2006). Masterpieces of American Romantic Literature. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. Pennell introduces works that are considered classics from American Romanticism, including Melvilles Moby-Dick, Stowes Uncle Toms Cabin, and Walt Whitmans Song of Myself. Her introductions include information about the author, as well as how the works were received in their own time and how todays critics view them. While Pennell only covers well-known works, her book is a good introduction to the romantic literary movement. The anonymous review in Reference & Research Book News seems to question whether the pieces that Pennell selects are actually masterpieces, but is impressed by the amount of information Pennell includes. This book is owned by the American College of Sharjah. Poe, E. A., & Peithman, S. (1981). The Annotated Tales of Edgar Allan Poe. Garden City, N.Y: Doubleday. Poe has given us some of the best examples of American Gothicism, including The TellTale Heart and The Masque of the Red Death. This edition of his work includes annotations ranging from vocabulary and name explanations to interpretations given by the editor. While the anonymous reviewer in American Literature notes that this edition is perhaps best for the general reader, they do note that anyone who enjoys Poes work will be pleased with the annotations. Furthermore, the notes are informal, perhaps not best for an academic library, but fine considering this collection is trying to assist students with the context and vocabulary of American literature, as well as the culture that it has created. This book is owned by the American University in Cairo, the American College of Greece, and the American University in Paris. Showalter, E. (2010). A Jury of her Peers: American Women Writers from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Proulx. New York: Vintage. Showalter examines women writers throughout American history and examines the ways in which they and their works were received by other women, other writers, and society in general. She also discusses these writers in todays society; that is, how we perceive them today and why we continue to read some of them while not reading others. Melissa Matthes reviews Showalters work as being a valuable companion to the many anthologies of the best womens writing. S.A. Parker also gives the book a shining review, describing it as clear, accessible, and comprehensive, as well as essential for all collections. This book is owned by the American University in Cairo, the American College of Greece, the American University of Paris, and the Lebanese American University.

Smethurst, J. E. (2005). The Black Arts Movement: Literary Nationalism in the 1960s and 1970s. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. Smethurst attempts to look at the black arts movement in a different light, arguing that black artists incorporated theory into their works and were not just focused on protest. He also argues that the belief that the black arts movement was mainly conducted by men, pointing out that black women offered just as much as men. Charles Scruggs does describe Smethursts book as a monster (it is 471 pages), but admits that the authors research is impressive. Gene Jarrett reviews the book as an informative history of African American culture and society, and predicts that it will be used by teachers, students, and scholars for years to come. It is owned by the American University in Cairo, the Lebanese American University, and the American University of Rome. Steinbeck, J., & DeMott, R. J. (1989). Working Days: The Journals of the Grapes of Wrath, 1938-1941. New York: Viking. R.J. DeMotts edition provides commentaries of the journals that Steinbeck kept while he was writing The Grapes of Wrath. While not about character development or the plot of Steinbecks classic, the journals do provide a glimpse into the authors life and the difficulty that he had while writing. Robert Murray Davis applauds DeMotts masterful editing job and reviews the commentary as provid[ing] a context for readers of all levels of expertise. Edward L. Galligan expresses some doubt as to the usefulness of entries of what he calls Steinbecks self-nagging, but admits that the journals do demonstrate how much Steinbeck suffered to get that novel written. This book is owned by the American College in Greece. Thoreau, H.D. & Cramer, J.S. (2004). Walden: A Fully Annotated Edition. New Haven: Yale University Press. Walden features many of the tenants of Transcendentalism, including focus on nature, spiritual growth, and escape from society. Cramer, who is the curator of collections at The Thoreau Institute at Walden Woods, has added in-depth annotations beside the original text that include contextual information as well as writings from Thoreaus own journals and letters. In The New England Quarterly, Robert D. Habich reviews Cramers edition as enrich[ing]. Q. Grigg in Choice rates it essential for all collections; all levels. This edition of Walden is owned by the American University of Cairo, the American College of Greece, and the American University of Paris. Twain, M. & Hearn, M.P. (2001). The Annotated Huckleberry Finn. New York: Norton. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been called one of the Great American Novels, yet has caused much controversy since it was first published, particularly about race issues. Perhaps one of the best examples of Regionalism, Twain gives an accurate snapshot of what life in the South was like during slavery. Hearn provide contextual annotations, as well as the history of the book and the controversies it has created. Justin Kaplan and Mark Rotella, Sarah F. Gold, and Lynn Andriana note that Hearns

annotations can be on the lengthy side, but agree that they are overall informative and detailed. The American College of Greece and the American Academy of Rome both own a copy of Hearns edition

Journals

American Literary Realism (1967-current). This journal is published three times a year by the University of Illinois Press. The journal focuses on a key transition period (1870-1910) in American literary history. Heath Martin reviews the journal as recommended for academic libraries. American Literature (1929- current). American Literature is published quarterly by Duke University Press. The journal covers American literature from the colonial period to contemporary literature and includes essays, book reviews, and news concerning new editions and anthologies related to American lit. Martin describes this journal as being a core title for academic libraries. Full-text of the journal is available electronically through JSTOR and the Ebsco Literary Reference Center. Studies in American Indian Literatures (1974- current). Studies in American Indian Literatures is published quarterly by the University of Nebraska Press. It contains scholarly articles concerning American Indian literature, as well as critical and theoretical essays on the topic. The journal also publishes poetry, short stories, and book reviews. Johnston highly recommends it for any academic library that provides services to an American literature program. This journal is an important addition to this collection because it lends voice to a minority that has often gone unheard, and also emphasizes the diversity of American literature. Full-text of the journal is available electronically through JSTOR and Project Muse. Reference Books Franklin, B.V., et. al. & Facts on File, Inc. (2010). Research Guide to American Literature. New York: Facts On File. This research guide series has much to offer students who might not be familiar with American literature, while still providing important information to students and faculty members who have studied the subject before. Each book contains background information on the certain literary movement, a guide to the main literary themes of the movement, information concerning specific authors and works, an annotated bibliography, and a glossary of terms. A. Wirkkala and J.G. Matthew, who both reviewed individual books from the series in Choice, note that the guides not only

discuss works by prominent authors, but by writers from minorities and lesser-known authors as well. Furthermore, the series was reviewed by Brian E. Coutts and Cheryl LaGuardia in the Library Journal as one of the Best References of 2010. This series is owned by the American University of Sharjah.

II. Web Materials Databases The MLA International Bibliography, available online through EBSCOhost. The MLA International Bibliography is a database compiled by the Modern Language Associations Office of Bibliographic Information Services. According to the information given on the MLA website, the database provides a subject index for books and articles published on modern languages, literature, folklore, and linguistics. Websites Reuben, P.P. (2011, March 30). PAL: Perspectives in American Literature A Research and Reference Guide. Retrieved November 6, 2011, from http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/table.html. Reuben, an English Professor Emeritus of California State University, has created an extensive and informative website concerning American Literature. The website is easy to navigate; the major American literary periods are divided into sections, which contain links to a selected bibliography, an introduction to the period, and individual author pages containing bibliographic and biographic information. Multiple appendices forcus on specific genres, themes, and groups. Several reputable websites link to Reubens site, including the University of Guelphs American Literature subject guide, the Baltimore County Public Librarys African American InfoCenter, and the American Literature Information Resource Center in Cairo. A list of literature links provided by Washington State University includes Reubens site at the top of its General American Literature Sites section, and reviews it as extensive, with SiteScene reviews [that] are extensive and thorough.

References American Literature Information Resource Center (May 2008). American Literature IRC Cairo: Bibliography: Outline of American Literature. Retrieved on November 6, 2011, from http://cairoamlit.blogspot.com/2008/06/bibliography-outline-of-american.html. Anonymous. (October, 1982). [Review of the book The Annotated Tales of Edgar Allan Poe by E.A. Poe & S. Peithman]. American Literature, 54 (3), 470. Anonymous. (Summer 2008). [Review of the book The Oxford Handbook of Early American Literature by K.J. Hayes]. Contemporary Review, 290 (1689), 265. Anonymous. (November, 2006). [Review of the book Masterpieces of American Romantic Literature by M.M.F. Pennell]. Reference & Research Book News, 21 (4), 304. Baer, U. (November 2000). [Review of the book Transcendentalism: A Reader by J. Myerson]. Library Journal, 125 (9), 69. Baltimore Public Library (2011). African American InfoCenter. Retrieved November 6, 2011, from http://www.bcpl.info/centers/aacenter/. Campbell, D. (February 2011). American Literature Sites. Retrieved November 6, 2011, from http://public.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/sites.htm. Cologne-Brooks, G. (1998). [Review of the book The American Enlightenment by R.A. Ferguson]. Journal Review of English Studies, 49 (195), 369-370. Coutts, B.E. and LaGuardia, C. (April 2011). Best of 2010: Reference. [Review of the book Research Guide to American Literature by B.V. Franklin, et. al. & Facts on File, Inc.]. Library Journal, 136 (7), 46. Davis, R.M. (Winter, 1990). [Review of the book Working Days: The Journals of the Grapes of Wrath by J. Steinbeck & R.J. DeMott]. World Literature Today, 64 (1), 120-121. Dimitri, C. (1988). [Review of the book The American Enlightenment by R.A. Ferguson]. Journal of American Studies, 32 (3), 540-541. Eberwein, J.D. (Spring 2009). [Review of the book Critical Companion to Emily Dickinson: A Literary Reference to her Life and Work by S. Leiter]. The Emily Dickinson Journal, 18 (1), 110-113. Galligan, E.L. (Fall, 1989). [Review of the book Working Days: The Journals of the Grapes of Wrath by J. Steinbeck & R.J. DeMott]. The Sewanee Review, 97 (4), cxxii-cxxiii. Grigg, Q. (January, 2005). [Review of the book Walden: A Fully Annotated Edition by H.D. Thoreau & J.S. Cramer]. Choice, 42 (5), 856.

Habich, R.D. (March, 2005). [Review of the book Walden: A Fully Annotated Edition by H.D. Thoreau & J.S. Cramer]. The New England Quarterly, 78 (1), 133-136. Hewitt, D. (May, 1993). [Review of the book The Great Gatsby by F.S. Fitzgerald & M.J. Bruccoli]. Review of English Studies, 44 (174), 291-292. Jacob, M. (October 2010). Research on American Lit. [Review of the book by]. Booklist, 107 (3), 98. Jerrett, G. (December, 2005). The Black Arts Movement and its Scholars. [Review of the book The Black Arts Movement: Literary Nationalism in the 1960s and 1970s by J.E. Smethurst]. American Quarterly, 57 (4), 1243-1251. Johnson, Denise. (March, 2007). [Review of the book Critical Companion to Emily Dickinson: A Literary Reference to her Life and Work by S. Leiter]. Library Journal, 132 (4), 106. Johnston, R. (2008). Studies in American Indian Literature. [review] in Magazine for Libraries from Ulrichs. Johnston, T.E. (December 1967). [Review of the book The Works of Anne Bradstreet by A. Bradstreet & J. Hensely]. New England Quarterly, 40 (4), 616. Kaplan, J. (Winter 2002). [Review of the book The Annotated Huckleberry Finn by M. Twain & M.P. Hearn]. The Wilson Quarterly, 26 (1), 114. Lukens, M. (December, 2001). [Review of the book Native American Womens Writing: c. 18001924, an anthology by K.L. Kilcup]. Legacy, 19 (2), 265. Margolis, S. (Spring, 2006). [Review of the book The Vast and Terrible Drama: American Literary Naturalism in the Late Nineteenth Century by E.C. Link]. American Studies, 47 (1), 172-173. Martin, H.C. (2011). American Literary Realism. [review] in Magazine for Libraries fromUlrichs. Martin, H. C. (2011). American Literature. [review] in Magazine for Libraries from Ulrichs. Matthes, M. (October, 2009). [Review of the book A Jury of her Peers: American Women Writers from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Porulx by E. Showalter]. Commonweal, 136 (17), 22. Matthews, J.G. (November 2010). [Review of the book Research Guide to American Literature by B.V. Franklin, et. al. & Facts on File, Inc.]. Choice, 48 (3), 471.

Mills, Ralph J. (May, 1968). [Review of the book The Works of Anne Bradstreet by A. Bradstreet & J. Hensely]. Poetry, 112 (2), 127-130. Neurnberg, S.M. (December, 2004). [Review of the book The Vast and Terrible Drama: American Literary Naturalism in the Late Nineteenth Century by E.C. Link]. Choice, 42 (4), 660. Parker, S.A. (July, 2009). [Review of the book A Jury of her Peers: American Women Writers from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Porulx by E. Showalter]. Choice, 46 (11), 2115. Rotella, M., Gold, S.F., and Andriana, L. (September 2001). [Review of the book The Annotated Huckleberry Finn by M. Twain & M.P. Hearn]. Publishers Weekly, 248 (37), 73-74. Scruggs, C. (March, 2007). [Review of the book The Black Arts Movement: Literary Nationalism in the 1960s and 1970s by J.E. Smethurst]. American Literature, 79 (1), 191. Shields, John C. (Spring 2011). [Review of the book The Oxford Handbook of Early American Literature by K.J. Hayes]. Eighteenth-Century Studies, 44 (3), 412-418. University of Guelph (2011). Subject & Course Guides: Find Information on American Literature. Retrieved November 6, 2011, from http://www.lib.uoguelph.ca/research/subject_&_course_guides/index.cfm?fuseaction=Su bjectGuides.getGuide&code=amerlit. Wirkkala, A. (September 2010). [Review of the book Research Guide to American Literature by B.V. Franklin, et. al. & Facts on File, Inc.]. Choice, 48 (1), 53.