The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Contemporary Period: 1945 To The Present

Book Description

A best-selling anthology since its first edition, this premier survey of American literature has influenced the manner in which the American literary canon is taught in classrooms across the nation. In response to readers' requests, the editors of the Heath Anthology continue to develop and reinforce its greatest strengths: diverse reading selections and strong ancillaries. With the assistance of more than 200 contributing editors—all specialists in particular eras and writers—the editors have updated biographical and critical information, as well as added new works of interest to both instructors and students.

The Fourth Edition features writers and selections that highlight the divergent communities and diverse voices constituting the United States, both past and present. Volume 1 takes students from Native American oral literatures up to 1865, including Whitman and Dickinson. Volume 2 (which can be packaged with a free supplement of Whitman and Dickinson works) opens with African American folk tales and regional writers, and includes new sections on the Beat Movement and the Vietnam Conflict.

Customer Reviews:

Worthy of Interest.......2006-02-03

This is one MASSIVE, but highly rewarding anthology. There is much to be curious about in here; from Colombus's first-hand hypothesis of a pear-shaped world, to the charmingly underrated poetry of Edward Taylor, to Edgar Allen Poe's essay on the process of composing The Raven; most anyone, with an interest in history and literature, will find themselves satisfied. Understandably dry, but comprehensive, it never lingers too long on any one person or period. The concise introductions for each section offer just enough meat to appreciate the context of what is to come.

Textbook.......2005-09-15

I saved a lot of money and the delivery was fast--so I can't complain. The book was not in as good of condition as I thought but it was not a big deal. Thank you!

Exhaustive and exhausting.......2004-06-24

This anthology includes darn near everything you can think of. Though the works of major authors (say for instance Cooper) are sometimes given short shrift in favor of the "marginalized" voices of obscure writers (Frances Sargent Lock Osgood, to cite only one example), there is an abundance of worthwhile material for classroom study in its 3000-plus pages of fine print.
My complaint is that in the service of being inclusive, the editors have constructed such a painfully heavy and dense text that it will be a chore to read or to take anywhere. As a teacher I want to encourage wide reading of American literature, but I don't want to burden them with a book that is so reader-unfriendly that they'll bristle every time they have to crack open this hulking giant.

A Fine American Anthology.......2004-05-17

It was 1994 and I was in my second semester since returning to college at the age of 30. At the time, I was unsure as to whether I should major in English to study History instead.

I decided to take an American literature course that Spring of 1994. The Heath Anthology was the assigned text. In considering this book ten years later, I feel that one of the benefits of such a text is that it provides a framework for more learning. The book contains excerpts of various works such as the autobiographies of Benjamin Franklin and Harriet Ann Jacobs. If one is interested in reading more, the bookstore, library or yes, Amazon.com can be searched in order to obtain the complete work as well as other material by the same author.

The Heath Anthology also has complete works including Frederick Douglass' autobiography and fiction of Washington Irving and Edgar Allan Poe. Poetry, letters and songs are more of what lies in this quite large (but worth it) tome.

Despite the physical weight of the book, I carried it with me to my full-time job possibly every day and I no doubt read it during countless lunch hours. I can't say that I enjoyed all of the material - Thoreau in particular bored me, although I should open the book and give him another try now that I'm older and perhaps more patient. I enjoyed Douglass, Jacobs, Stowe, the Native American poetry, Franklin, Bradstreet, Whitman, Poe and Irving among others. Perhaps when I graduate next year, I can revisit them all again.

Book Description

This new anthology brings the expansive, inclusive approach of the two-volume Heath to the single-volume format. While other one-volume texts continue to anthologize primarily canonical works, the new Heath Concise offers a fresh perspective for the course, based on the successful hallmarks of the two-volume set.

The selected works represent the most culturally diverse table of contents available in a one-volume format.
A wealth of historical and cultural context material helps illuminate the literary works.
A broad range of literary forms includes sermons, songs, and letters.
Engaging Headnotes and Section Introductions provide students with background information.
Mini-thematic units—including Literature of the Vietnam Conflict— allow for in-depth study.
Unlike many one-volume anthologies, The Heath features fewer excerpts of long works and a rich selection of short works teachable in every classroom.
A comprehensive web site offers abundant student and instructor resources, such as author information; an interactive timeline of literature, history, and culture; and an archive of Heath Newsletter articles.

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Anthology of American Literature.......2006-06-30

This second volume of American Literature is quite excellent in it's editing and information. The writers read like a who's who of American fiction of over the last couple of centuries. The various writers, poets, authors, and others who have contributed whether it be a poem, a short story, or an essay is enormous. I had this book for American Literature II class in college. The writing in this book reflects America's taste for the various cultures, races, ethnicities, sexual preferences, backgrounds, histories, and tales of everything from identity to immigration to slavery, etc. The stories and poems in this anthology can only help us better understand America. I would give this a 5 but I think it should be a hardcover rather softcover because I got an overly used copy which fell apart in time but I would recommend this book for any high school language arts teacher and as a great library reference book.

get what you pay for.......2005-10-06

The book was at or better than what I expected(condition). The price was right. The book arrived within 5 days, this, during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. I can't say enough about that. Thanks

The Heath Anthology of American Literature.......2000-05-27

In purchasing this book, I was expecting to find something similar to the second volume of the Norton Anthology of American Literature. Unfortunately, I found this book to be far inferior. It has works by some of America's most highly commended authors, and has some great short stories. However, the excerpts from authors' longer works seem to be lacking; there should either be longer excerpts or more poingnat scenes should have been chosen. The anthology spends far too much time describing eras, and not enough in inserting major works. Some of the breakdowns/characterizations of the peices included are awkward, and tends to underrate the authors by putting them in sectionss that degrade their work.

The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Early Nineteenth Century: 1800-1865, Volume B (Heath Anthology of American Literature)

Average customer rating:

The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Early Nineteenth Century: 1800-1865, Volume B (Heath Anthology of American Literature)

Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Literacy | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Literature & Fiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Reference | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Colonial Period To 1800, Volume A
The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Late Nineteenth Century: 1865-1910
The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Modern Period 1910-1945
The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Contemporary Period: 1945 To The Present
Charlotte Temple (Oxford Paperbacks)

ASIN: 0618532986

The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Late Nineteenth Century: 1865-1910

Average customer rating:

The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Late Nineteenth Century: 1865-1910

Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Literacy | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Literature & Fiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Reference | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Modern Period 1910-1945
The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Contemporary Period: 1945 To The Present
The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Early Nineteenth Century: 1800-1865, Volume B (Heath Anthology of American Literature)
The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Colonial Period To 1800, Volume A
The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Eighth Edition, Volumes A-C: The Middle Ages Through the Restoration and the Eighteenth Century

ASIN: 0618532994

The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Colonial Period To 1800, Volume A

Average customer rating:

The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Colonial Period To 1800, Volume A

Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Literature & Fiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Early Nineteenth Century: 1800-1865, Volume B (Heath Anthology of American Literature)
The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Late Nineteenth Century: 1865-1910
The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Modern Period 1910-1945
The Heath Anthology Of American Literature: Contemporary Period: 1945 To The Present
Charlotte Temple (Oxford Paperbacks)

ASIN: 0618532978

Instructor's Guide: The Heath Anthology of American Literature

Average customer rating:

Instructor's Guide: The Heath Anthology of American Literature

Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

Heath Anthology of American Literature
The Heath Anthology of American Literature, Vol. 1

ASIN: 0618109234

Product Description

Curricula ideas for the various texts used with the Heath Anthology.

The Heath Anthology of American Literature, Volume II

Average customer rating:

The Heath Anthology of American Literature, Volume II

Manufacturer: D. C. Heath & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0669329738

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Heath Anthology of American Literature)

Average customer rating:

Audra's Review of Huckleberry Finn
MUST READ BOOK
I love the book
Great Illustrated Classics by Baronet Books
Great rendition.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Heath Anthology of American Literature)
Paul Lauter , and Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin College Div
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Children's Literature Guides | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

The Last of the Mohicans (Great Illustrated Classics)
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Great Illustrated Classics)
Treasure Island (Great Illustrated Classics)
Oliver Twist (Great Illustrated Classics)
History of the Christian Church

Accessories:

Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers
philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer

ASIN: 0395898919

Book Description

THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN This is Twain's masterwork written at the height of his power. Twain himself refers to it as "a book of mine where a sound heart & a deformed conscience come into collision & conscience suffers defeat."

The book contains belly-laughing humor intertwined with themes of profound moral significance. Huck, escaping from the confines of his existence on the shore, has found life to be "free and easy living on a raft" with Jim, a black man fleeing from slavery. When faced with the crucial decision to turn over Jim to his rightful owner, he studies the consequences, then says to himself, "All right, then, I'll go to hell."

Customer Reviews:

Audra's Review of Huckleberry Finn.......2004-03-29

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an exciting novel. It begins with the narrator (Huckleberry Finn) explaining that he and some friends (along with Tom Sawyer) are in a "Robber's Gang." Huck wishes to remain a part of this new gang but Tom Sawyer, who is a life long friend forces him to be respectable and stay in school in order to stay in the gang.
The Novel is set in St. Petersburg, Missouri. All is well, Huck Finn has money saved in the bank from treasures he and his friend Tom found. Unfortunately, Huck's father, who is a money hungry drunk, comes back to town and demands Huck's money. Huck was adopted by a lady named Widow Douglas. Huck's dad tries to fight for custody once he comes back to town but fails in his attempts. He then hangs around town and harrasses his son. Finally he kidnaps Huckand takes him to his cabin. In this part of the story the reader feels for Huck. His father locks him in their cabin when he leaves and when he returns home drunk, he beats him. The reader wants to see Huck stand up to his father and do something. Then, the reader gets what they want. Huck escapes from his father by faking his own death. He then sneaks off to an island in the Mississippi while the townspeople search the river for his body.
While he's living on the island he encounters another boy. His name is Jim. Huck and Jim become friends and live on the island together. Unfortunately, some townspeople saw smoke coming from the island so the boys are forced to leave. The novel goes on to follow Huckleberry Finn in his wild journey's across the Mississippi.
I thought that the book was a wonderful exciting tale of companionship and adventure. I would not hesitate to read this book again. Although the time period and the setting set me off from reading this novel before, when I finally read it I was pleasently suprised. I really liked how Huck Finn tells the story and the humor that is put into it. Mark Twain does a great job of making you feel like you are a part of the story as well. However, Mark Twain sometimes used racism that could be offensive to some. In my opinion, this book wouldn't have a clear setting of time period if he had left it out.
My favorite thing about this novel is that it is a story about a young boy and what he overcomes in life. I loved the friend ships and the childhood fasination of the outdoors. I would recommend this book to anyone who read the novel preceding it, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and also to anyone who enjoys a good adventure themselves.

MUST READ BOOK.......2004-03-11

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an adventure book written by Mark Twain. Huck Finn sails down the Mississippi River on a raft. Huckleberry Finn shows his bravery by trying to escape from his father. In order to live Huck Finn has to try to run away or escape from his abusive father. To find out if he escapes from his father be sure to read this book.
This is a must read! The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn will make reader feel like your Huck Finn. The reader will realize how hard it actually is for Huck Finn to live with his father and how hard it is to escape. This book is a book the reader just can't put down. The book takes a long time to get into so don't put this book down until you finish.
Mark twain is famous to most children my age. Twain was born in 1835 and died in1910 so he was 75 when he died. Mark Twain has written many books such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Samuel Clemens is considered one of the greatest American writers. When the reader reads this book they will feel Huckleberry Finn's pain.

I love the book.......2002-01-10

This book was great i read every one of his adventures. I got realy mad when i heard some librarys were banning the book. :(

Great Illustrated Classics by Baronet Books.......2001-03-14

I bought the original work of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn for my 8-year-old and while he reads on a very elevated level, the original had language too difficult to decipher. However, he was interested in the story so I bought this abridged version and he loved it.

Great rendition........2000-12-20

Jack Lemon takes a rare and wonderful turn at narrating in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This adaptation of the Twain classic seems crisper, capturing the feel of youth. It has never sounded better. The spry Mr. Lemon breathes life into this worn classic. This is a keeper for all ages.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books