Overview
Notable American Novelists presents biographical sketches and analytical overviews of 145 of the best-known American and Canadian writers of long fiction from the 19th and 20th centuries, arranged alphabetically by name. The set\'s three volumes survey the novelists whose works are included in core curricula of high school and undergraduate literature studies. Each essay begins with a presentation of reference information: the novelist\'s birth and death dates and a list of the writer\'s principal works of long fiction, with publication dates. "Other literary forms" then briefly describes genres other than long fiction in which the writer has worked, and an "Achievements" section encapsulates the author\'s central contribution and notes major honors and awards. The major sections of the text follow: "Biography" provides a sketch of the author\'s life, and "Analysis" looks at the novelist\'s work in detail.