World Authors: 1900-1950

Representing a broad range of ethnic diversity, these in-depth profiles present fascinating accounts of lives and careers, the circumstances under which works were produced, and their literary significance. Each profile also includes critical evaluation, a list of the author's principal works with date first published, a list of major critical works, and a portrait or photograph where available.

Twentieth Century Authors (Wilson, 1942) and Twentieth Century Authors First Supplement (Wilson, 1955), edited by Howard Haycraft, Vineta Colby, and Stanley Kunitz, have been staples of the reference collection. These four new volumes are a complete revision of the originals, which have long been out of date.

Like the two earlier works, the revised version provides information on poets, novelists, dramatists, essayists, critics, and scholars who came into prominence between 1900 and 1950. The earlier works featured a biographical and critical summary for each writer, very often followed by a personal statement, and lists of works by and about the author. There was also a small black-and-white photograph. This format has been retained, including the personal statements and the same small, dated-looking pictures.

What has been revised? First, all of the articles have been completely rewritten. In very many cases, writers who were still alive in 1940 or 1950 have long since died, and many years' worth of research and critical perspective are reflected in their profiles, not to mention in the updated and, in some cases, greatly expanded bibliographies. In addition, there has been a revision in tone. Gone are the descriptions of physical appearance (Olive Schreiner "was lovely in her youth, with abundant wavy dark hair, delicate features, and beautiful dark eyes"; Angela Thirkell is "still blonde and remarkably attractive at fifty"). Gone are the patronizing, old-fashioned stereotypes. Olive Schreiner has been transformed from "the pure type of rebellious woman of the Victorian age . . . always more emotional than intellectual" to "a tormented, questing, unsatisfied visionary." The early volumes were reticent about writers' personal lives, in part because so many of the writers were still alive but also because of the conventions of the time. Now, in a more open and confessional age, we can read all about Delmore Schwartz's alcoholism and Lytton Strachey's lovers.

There has been much less revision in the choice of authors that are included. The number of writers seems to be the same--just over 2,500. According to the editors, a few writers were dropped, and "dozens" have been added: Hungarian poet and journalist Endre Ady, Chinese dramatist and poet Tian Han, French Caribbean poet Rene Maran, to name a few. Even so, this is not the source to turn to for a truly multicultural view of world litererature in the first half of the century. Writers whom some might look for in these volumes, such as Arna Bontemps and Jean Toomer, are covered in World Authors, 1950^-1970. But World Authors, 1900^-1950 remains a product of mid-twentieth-century literary scholarship, focusing on (mostly white) U.S. and European writers.

Twentieth Century Authors and the Supplement were once described in the pages of RBB as having "scanty analysis that tends to reflect the tastes of another age." This revision is long overdue and recommended for most libraries. Along with the other volumes in the World Authors series, it provides coverage of thousands more authors than other sets such as Cyclopedia of World Authors (Rev. 3d ed., Salem Press, 1997). Public libraries can finally replace their copies of the old volumes, although research libraries may want to hang on to them for historical interest. According to the editors, a CD-ROM version will be available sometime this year. Mary Ellen Quinn