American Women Writers: A Biographical Dictionary by Carol Kort (review)

Reviews Carol Kort. American Women Writers:A BiographicalDictionary. New York: Checkmark, 2001. 288p. Gwendolyn James Columbia Basin College American Women Writers: A BiographicalDictionary is an ambitious effort on the part ofCarol Kort. It provides biographical information on more than 1 50 women writers associated with American letters from many different genres and time periods, including such luminaries as Abigail Adams, Mary Rowlandson, Anne Rice, and Annie Dillard. The scope ofthis volume is very broad, going far beyond works and authors typically described as "literary," and this, perhaps, is its greatest strength. Each entry provides a glimpse into the writer's life and a list ofthe works credited to her. For about 50 authors, Kort has included photographs as well. In addition to die encyclopedic entries, the volume includes a general bibliography of American women writers, a comprehensive index, and three different subject indexes organized by genre, decade ofbirth, and subject matter. In 288 pages, it is difficult to give extensive information about so many authors covering such a wide range ofsubject matter over such a long time period. For this reason, this volume would work best for those teaching in K-12 or in introductory college courses in literature or women's studies. While some entries are as long as three pages, including diat ofAbigail Adams, others are less than one hundred words.The information given is factual, but it lacks analysis. In looking at how Kort chooses to prioritize and balance the length ofher entries, it appears that this particular volume was not intended to portray the range ofcultural diversity within the American experience. Also troubling to me was the fact that the entries offered little in the way ofscholarship or insight into the actual writing these women have been engaged in. Given the limitations imposed by the breaddi ofmaterial and the book's length, this volume would be valuable for those who are seeking to expose students to die idea that American women have made significant contributions to literature in the past, and they continue to do so today. It would be an excellent addition to a young adult library. % FALL 2003 * ROCKY MOUNTAIN REVIEW * 67 ...