Asian American Literature: A Brief Introduction and Anthology (review)

Nearly 15 years after its initial publication, Asian American Literature: A Brief Introduction and Anthology is still in its first edition. Despite its age, this anthology remains one of the top selections for university courses within the field of Asian American Literature studies and education. This position, while partly achieved due to a lack of extensive options, is nonetheless well-deserved. Containing a foreword by Ishmael Reed (General Editor of the Longman Literary Mosaic Series), as well as a preface and an introduction by Shawn Wong, the anthology rests on a solid foundation of Asian American literature and possesses some unique features which will be valuable to any focused study of the field.

One such feature is the personal touch of the preface and introduction. Shawn Wong, a distinguished Asian American author in his own right, has the distinction of previously creating one of the first serious Asian American literature anthologies (Aiiieeeee! An Anthology of Asian-American Writers, first published in 1974) and therefore brings a special perspective to his role as editor. His very personal preface contrasts with the more formal introduction and may give the book a greater sense of "relevance" for students and make the historical context of the anthology more engaging.

Interestingly, Wong chooses to eschew excerpts from novels and longer works and includes only complete texts. Wong suggests that the anthology "is meant to be supplemented" with other texts, such as complete novels, as there are now "dozens and dozens of works by Asian Americans in print" to select from (xvii). Because Asian American novels are becoming increasingly common and are more familiar to today's students, the choice to use complete novels is probably even easier now than in 1996. Today, there are more than "dozens and dozens" of complete texts to choose from, yet there is still a distinct lack of contemporary, unified anthologies (xvii). However, Wong also includes a list of recommendations of other works at the end of the book, which may prove both beneficial for instructors and inspirational to students.

In comparison with Wong's preface, the introduction does not hold up as well. The introduction serves as a broad historical background, but is probably better supplemented by outside texts and specific lectures. Much of the "contemporary" culture and historical commentary is now somewhat out of date. Much of the introduction is an abbreviated historical timeline which highlights a few specific (though notable) examples of early Asian American writers. However, Wong does not include in his discussion many ethnic/cultural groups which have recently risen to prominence in the media's eye, such as Indian Americans, Vietnamese Americans, and Korean Americans. The historical discussion also includes only events through the mid-seventies, which may seem distant to many students expecting to see a contemporary name that they recognize.

The overall selection of the anthology follows the tone of the introduction. Wong includes solid, noteworthy examples of historical representation, but the collection is sorely lacking in representatives from the last 15 to 20 years and from the above-mentioned cultural groups. The anthology is divided into four sections: "Autobiography, Memoir, and Nonfiction Essay," "Fiction," "Poetry," and "Drama." This organization by format rather than by theme or background also distinguishes this book from several other anthologies, though Wong does include a "thematic" table of contents at the end of the book. The selections for the first section are particularly well-suited for introducing novice students to the common issues discussed among authors and scholars within the field. Amy Tan's essay "Mother Tongue," an examination of the different types of "English" that she must use and acknowledge as a Chinese American writer, may particularly resonate with contemporary students who are accustomed to hearing the fine nuances of the different forms of English spoken in America. Students may also appreciate the approachability and the "readability" of the essay, which Tan herself describes. Traise Yamato's "Different Silences" is a good, brief exploration into the issues...