Modern Black Writers

Type of source-
Subject encyclopedia/Handbook
(classification lines blur; this volume fits either category in its provision of quick access to a detailed orientation for a particular subject)

Bibliographic Information-
Modern Black Writers, 2nd edition
editorial team; Project Coordinator: Joann Cerrito
St. James Press (imprint of The Gale Group)
Farmington Hills, MI
Publication date: 2000
Call # R810.9896073 M689

Subject coverage/scope-
Critical analysis and commentary on black writers of late 20th century
Updated (late 20th century) analysis of earlier 20th century writers

Access methods-
List of entrants by Name (alphabetical)
List of entrants by Country (alphabetical)
Page headings
Index of Excerpted Critics
Index of Publications (in Acknowledgments)

Arrangement of Access Methods-
entry headings
page headings
critic index, with page reference

Advantages-
Broad scope - United States writers less than 1/3 of total entrants
considerable coverage of writers from African and Caribbean countries
Depth - substantial length of excerpted critical analyses
Innovative - includes writers representing sub-genres, e.g. speculative & detective fiction

Deficiencies-
no chronological mapping of entrants
lack of biographical data
focus on classic writers, little coverage outside academic literature canon