Reading the Literatures of Asian America (Asian American History & Cultu)

With the recent proliferation of critically acclaimed literature by Asian American writers, this groundbreaking collection of essays provides a unique resource for students, scholars, and the general reading public. The homogeneity implied by the term "Asian American" is replaced in this volume with the rich diversity of highly disparate peoples. Languages, religions, races and cultural and national backgrounds. Examining a century of Asian American literature from the late 19th century up through the contemporary experimental drama of Ping Chong, the contributors address the work of writers with Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, East Indian, and Pacific Island ancestry. Asian Canadian and Hawaiian literature are also considered. Author note: Shirley Geok-lin Lim is Professor of Asian Studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Amy Ling is Associate Professor of English and Director of Asian American Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.