African American Literary Theory: A Reader.

African American Literary Theory: A Reader edited by Winston Napier New York University Press, July 2000, $29.95 ISBN 0-8147-5810-X

Even for the enthusiastic reader, literary theory may represent a vacuum of over-intellectualism that promises to suck all the enjoyment out of curling up with a good book. Though it can sometimes be hard to understand for its abundance of fifty-cent words, worthwhile literary criticism really just boils down to asking tough questions about literature. With that as a base, Napier offers a collection of some of the most significant and interesting ideas written about African American letters.

Composed of 51 expert essays from the 1920s through 1999, Napier's book testifies to the impressive history and scope of African American literature. With the longest essay rounding out at just 23 pages, the Reader is as easy to get into as it is comprehensive. Further, Napier wisely chooses to organize his collection in chronological order, subsequently creating a narrative that helps the reader recognize and appreciate debates which kept discussions alive for nearly a century, Though the anthology leaves out potentially helpful background information about the texts themselves, an informative introduction, extensive index, and list of "suggested reading" offer more than enough direction for anyone interested in doing further research.

Substantial, accessible and at 730 pages as thorough as you're going to get, African American Literary Theory is a valuable primer for any fan of black literature who wants to go one step further. It is a useful guide to the central works and criticism that have helped shape our tradition and literature at large.

Ted Sammons is a first-year Masters student in New York University's Africana Studies Department.