Contemporary Creative Nonfiction: The Art of Truth / Edition 1

by Bill Roorbach

Overview

The most inclusive collection of creative nonfiction available, Contemporary Creative Nonfiction: The Art of Truth is the only anthology that brings together examples of all three of the main forms in the genre: the literary memoir, the personal essay, and literary journalism. Featuring a generous and diverse sampling of more than sixty works, this collection includes beautiful, disturbing, and instructive works of literary memoir by such writers as Mary McCarthy, Annie Dillard, and Judy Ruiz; smart, funny, and moving personal essays by authors ranging from E.B. White to Phillip Lopate to Ntozake Shange; and incisive, vivid, and quirky examples of literary journalism by Truman Capote, Barbara Ehrenreich, Sebastian Junger, and many others. This unique volume also contains examples of captivating nature writing, exciting literary travel writing, brilliant essays in science, surprising creative cultural criticism, and moving literary diaries and journals, incorporating several classic selections to set a context for the contemporary work. The editor's general introduction and introductions to each of the five sections provide useful definitions, crucial history, critical context, and abundant issues to debate. Ideal for undergraduate and graduate courses in creative nonfiction, literary journalism, essay writing, and all levels of composition, Contemporary Creative Nonfiction: The Art of Truth is also an essential resource for all nonfiction writers, from novices to professionals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195135565
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	01/04/2001
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	576
Product dimensions:	9.60(w) x 6.70(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Ohio State University

Table of Contents

CreditsIntroductionSECTION 1. LITERARY DIARIES AND JOURNALSJohn Cheeverfrom The JournalsMay Sartonfrom Journal of a SolitudeGerald Early"Digressions"M.F.K. Fisher"Paris Journal"George Dennisonfrom TempleGretel Ehrlich"From the Journals"Edward Robb Ellisfrom Diary of a CenturySECTION 2. LITERARY MEMOIRJames Thurber"Snapshot of a Dog"Mary McCarthy"Yonder Peasant, Who Is He?" from Memories of a Catholic GirlhoodAnnie Dillardfrom An American ChildhoodMaxine Hong Kingston"No Name Woman," from The Woman WarriorHilton Als"Notes on My Mother"Andre Dubus III"Tracks and Ties"Kathryn Harrisonfrom The KissDorothy Allisonfrom Two or Three Things I Know for SureAndre Dubus"Lights of the Long Night" and "Husbands," from Broken VesselsFenton Johnsonfrom Geography of the HeartMary Karrfrom The Liar's ClubJudy Ruiz"Oranges and Sweet Sister Boy"Spalding Gray"Sex and Death to the Age 14"Tobias Wolff"A Federal Offense," from In Pharaoh's ArmyHarvey Pekar and R. Crumb"The Harvey Pekar Name Story"SECTION 3. THE PERSONAL ESSAYE.B. White"Once More to the Lake"James Baldwin"Equal in Paris," from Notes of a Native SonRalph Ellison"On Being the Target of Discrimination"Shirley Abbott"That Old-Time Religion," from WomenfolksHayden Carruth"Country Matters"Philip Lopate"The Dead Father: A Rememberance of Donald Barthelme"Vivian Gornick"At the University: Little Murders of the Soul"Jamaica Kincaid"A Small Place"Nancy Mairs"Body in Trouble," from Waist-High in the WorldHenry Louis Gates, Jr."Current Events," from Colored PeopleThomas Lynch"The Undertaking"Jane Shapiro"This is What You Need for a Happy Life"Joy Williams"Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp"Ntozake Shange"What Is It We Really Harvestin' Here?"Stanton Michaels"How to Write a Personal Essay"SECTION 4. LITERARY JOURNALISMJohn Hersey"The Fire," from HiroshimaTruman Capotefrom In Cold BloodMichael Herr"Illumination Rounds," from DispatchesNorman Mailer"The Turkey Shoot," from The Executioner's SongMikal Gilmore"Last Words," from Shot in the HeartJoyce Johnson"November 1987," from What Lisa KnewBarbara Ehrenreich"Nickel-and-Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America"Ann Hodgman"No Wonder They Call Me a Bitch"Joan Didionfrom SalvadorTom Wolfe"Yeager," from The Right StuffJon Krakauer"Summit, 1:25p.m., May 10, 1996, 29,028 Feet" from Into Thin AirSebastian Junger"The Zero-Moment Point," from The Perfect StormSECTION 5. THE ART OF THE PARTICULAR: CREATIVE NONFICTION CLASSIFIED BY SUBJECTNATURE WRITINGEdward AbbeyMemoir: "Havasu," from Desert SolitaireSue HubbellPersonal Essay: "Spring," from A Country YearJohn McPheeLiterary Journalism: from Annals of the Former WorldLITERARY TRAVELGretel EhrlichMemoir: "Lijiang," from Questions of HeavenNaomi Shihab NyePersonal Essay: "One Village"Eddy L. HarrisLiterary Journalism: from Mississippi SoloTHE SCIENCE ESSAYElizabeth Marshall ThomasMemoir: from The Hidden Life of DogsLewis ThomasPersonal Essay: "The Medusa and the Snail"Atul GawandeLiterary Journalism: "When Doctors Make Mistakes"CREATIVE CULTURAL CRITICISMMeghan DaumMemoir: Music Is My Bag: Confessions of a Lapsed Oboist"Janet MalcolmPersonal Essay: from The Silent WomanDavid Foster WallaceLiterary Journalism: "Shipping Out: On the (Nearly Lethal) Comforts of a Luxury Cruise