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Product Description Essays discuss Cooper, Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, Whitman, James, Twain, and the development of realism and naturalism From Library Journal This "New" History of Literature is actually a reworked version of a set, published in paperback in England more than 15 years ago, that addresses English and American literature only. New material has evidently be added to each volume, and though some of the bibliographies do not go beyond 1970, others include very current citations. Because of this updating, and because very few American libraries own the earlier set, the present edition may be treated as a new publication. Ten volumes will be published altogether: four volumes this year, four more in 1987, and two in 1988. Seven survey English literature from its beginnings to the present; two treat American literature; and a final volume is on the English language. Each volume consists of a series of concise, well-written essays on either a major genre ("Poetry, 1700-1740"), theme ("New England Transcendentalism"), or individual writer ("Spenser"). Most are by leading scholars, even "superstars," in their respective fields. The result, of course, is still a series of essays rather than a unified and systematic "history." Though more up to date than the standard histories (Oxford and Cambridge), it will not replace either. It is very well done, however, and is recommended to libraries that need a fairly current, authoritative, and multi-volume history of English/American literature. Undergraduates will find it very helpful for supplementary reading in their advanced literature classes. Peter Dollard, Alma Coll. Lib., Mich. Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.