The Washington, D.C. of Fiction: A Research Guide - Softcover

Kaser, James

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0810857405 ISBN 13: 9780810857407

Publisher: Scarecrow Press, 2006

Synopsis

Dating back to the early nineteenth century up through America's bicentennial, hundreds of novels can be found where the District of Columbia serves as the locale. And after the era of Vietnam protests and Watergate, everyone-the Washington Post noted-seemed to be writing a Washington novel. While many of these are works of genre fiction in which Washington serves as a backdrop, there have also been several insightful literary novels. Copies of the post-1976 texts can be fairly easily located, however, books published before this era are not quite as accessible. Furthermore, no single source has ever offered a comprehensive listing of works of fiction set in the nation's capitol. In The Washington, D.C. of Fiction, James A. Kaser provides detailed synopses for nearly 400 works published between 1822 and 1976, and bibliographic information for hundreds more published in the thirty years since. Because of the obscurity of so many authors of pre-1976 books, this book also contains a biographical information section, which follows the annotations. Plot summaries, names of major characters, and lists of Washington, D.C. settings are also provided. Although this book was written to assist researchers in locating works of fiction for analysis, the plot summaries have enough detail for the general reader-who may never actually look at the novels themselves-that he or she can develop an understanding of the way attitudes toward Washington, and what the city has symbolized, have changed over the years. Similarly, the biographical section, aside from its main purpose in helping find useful information on obscure writers, demonstrates the wide range of people who were motivated to write about the city: journalists, politicians, society women, and freelance writers.

About this title

Review

...an annotated bibliography of more than 400 works published 1822-1976 and an appendix of titles published after 1976...includes a helpful section containing brief author biographies...--Booklist, 10/15/2006

...while it will be of monumental value to any library collection as well as American literature and American studies scholars and historians, Kaser's style assures the book's appeal to anyone with an interest in Washington D.C. or pre-1970 fiction.--Journal of American Culture

Kaiser (library science and archivist, City U. of New York-Staten Island) cites, summarizes, and briefly describes 383 works of fiction published 1822 to 1976 that are set in the US capital, specifically novels and published collections of short stories for juveniles and adults. Works first published after 1976 are cited separately and without annotation, which is available in other bibliographies. Some of the works center on government cites and people, and others on residential Washington. He also presents biographical sketches of the authors. Dramatic works are not included, nor are works which contain just a scene or two in the city but no substantial description or characterization of it.--Reference and Research Book News, August 2006

About the Author

James A. Kaser is associate professor and archivist at The College of Staten Island/CUNY. He has worked as an archivist and special collections librarian for more than fifteen years, including six years at the George Washington University. In 1998, he curated the exhibition "City of Magnificent Illusions: The Washington, D.C. of Fiction" at the Gelman Library.

About this edition

• Publisher: Scarecrow Press
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0810857405
• ISBN 13: 9780810857407
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 366