Jazz Fiction: A History and Comprehensive Reader's Guide / Edition 1

by David Rife

Overview

Nearly 700 works by over 500 authors are presented in Jazz Fiction: A History and Comprehensive Reader's Guide, a comprehensive annotated bibliography of stories and novels that contain a jazz component. Presenting a valuable overview of the history of the genre from its beginnings to the near present, the book compartmentalizes the titles into literature genres, such as children, teen, and young adult stories; mystery and detective fiction; fantasy and science fiction; women and jazz; works based on the lives of actual jazz artists; international jazz fiction (representing over 20 countries); and even "Jazz" Fiction Sans Music: books that imply musical content but actually have none. A series of sub-genres such as "Big Band and Swing," "Blues," "Pulp and Smut," and "Novelizations" are identified, providing examples of works that characterize these categories and offering readers with specialized interests an easy reference. Also included are two short-lists, one for short stories, the other for novels, giving readers who desire to learn more about jazz fiction suggestions on where to begin.

David Rife's annotations qualify as short critical essays, generally providing a jargon-free, often witty presentation, making them a pleasure to read. Broad in scope, meticulously researched, and comprehensive with titles that have long been inaccessible, this definitive resource is essential for libraries and valuable to scholars and fans of jazz and literature.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810859074
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	11/06/2007
Series:	Studies in Jazz , #55
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	6.01(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

David Rife is Professor Emeritus in English at Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA, where he taught American literature and modern fiction for 35 years. He is a founding Associate editor of Brilliant Corners: A Journal of Jazz and Literature, and his writings have appeared in such publications as American Literary Realism, Annual Review of Jazz Studies, Journal of Modern Literature and Dictionary of Literary Biography.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Editor's Foreword Part 2 Acknowledgments Part 3 Part 1: From Music to Story Chapter 4 1. Bibliographic Overview Chapter 5 2. "Jazz" Fiction sans Music Chapter 6 3. Fiction for Juveniles and Young Adults Chapter 7 4. Women Chapter 8 5. Works Based on the Lives of Actual Musicians Chapter 9 6. Fantasy and Science Fiction Chapter 10 7. Mystery and Crime Chapter 11 8. Immigrant and International Chapter 12 9. For Further Reading Part 13 Part 2: Jazz Fiction by Select Categories Part 14 Part 3: Jazz Fiction Short-Lists Part 15 Part 4: Annotated Bibliography of Jazz Fiction Part 16 Title Index Part 17 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Rife probably knows his subject better than anyone around....Rife's introductory essays on the history of jazz fiction are essential for understanding the various subgenres such as young adult jazz fiction....Recommended.

Choice Reviews - .

...an intelligent and thoroughly reliable companion to scholarly endeavors in this growing field of study.

Booklist

Details about jazz fiction provided in this reference book successfully fill a void in the current literature.... English and music majors will find the historical background an important building block to their understanding of jazz fiction.

American Music

This is the most comprehensive bibliography available on the subject and a valuable work...

American Reference Books Annual

Details about jazz fiction provided in this reference book successfully fill a void in the current literature.... English and music majors will find the historical background an important building block to their understanding of jazz fiction.

Spring 2010 American Music

This is the most comprehensive bibliography available on the subject and a valuable work...

March 2008 American Reference Books Annual

...an intelligent and thoroughly reliable companion to scholarly endeavors in this growing field of study.

March 2008 Booklist

Rife probably knows his subject better than anyone around....Rife's introductory essays on the history of jazz fiction are essential for understanding the various subgenres such as young adult jazz fiction....Recommended.

CHOICE, May 2008 - .

Rife probably knows his subject better than anyone around....Rife's introductory essays on the history of jazz fiction are essential for understanding the various subgenres such as young adult jazz fiction....Recommended.
— May 2008

Choice

Rife probably knows his subject better than anyone around....Rife's introductory essays on the history of jazz fiction are essential for understanding the various subgenres such as young adult jazz fiction....Recommended.
— May 2008

CHOICE