Critical Insights: Sherman Alexie

January 1, 2012

These titles are the first ten volumes of the author component of a set that includes 30 volumes on authors and 30 on titles (see the review of the title series in LJ 2/15/10). According to the preface to Sherman Alexie, the material has "been chosen to address the interests and needs of a broad range of readers, from students...to teachers...to scholars." Essays, in which academic contributors place an author in social, historical, and literary context and present a variety of critical readings, average 5000 words each and offer source notes and works-cited lists. End matter for the books includes a detailed, cross-referenced index; an author chronology and biography; bibliographies; and a chapter titled "The Paris Review Perspective." Factual information is accurate, and the publication dates of the material in the general bibliographies range from 1959 to 2010. Each stand-alone volume includes its own database activation number providing free, unlimited, multiseat online access to the same content as is in the print edition. BOTTOM LINE Presenting different views and longer articles than those found in Harold Bloom's "Contemporary Authors," "Literary Criticism," and "Contemporary Literary Criticism" series, this reasonably priced offering is a useful addition for academic libraries supporting undergraduate and graduate literature students. While it will also be helpful in high schools, the younger students there may find the material overwhelming. Purchase where needed.--Laurie Selwyn, formerly with Grayson Cty. Law Lib., Sherman, TX

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