novelists, american

A biography of Nathaniel Hawthorne, discussing his childhood in Salem, Massachusetts, in the early nineteenth century, his Puritan background, struggles with money and family, success as an author, and disillusionment with his writings.

Describes the events surrounding Melville's life and provides a detailed analysis of his major works including Typee, Omoo, White-jacket, Billy Budd, and his masterpiece, Moby-Dick.

Collects critical essays on the life, influences, and works of Willa Cather, including selections by Melissa Ryan, David Stouck, Susan J. Rosowski, Nicholas Birns, and others.

Author Dani Shapiro reflects on her decision to embrace spirituality in her life in order to have a deeper understanding of it.

The opening of this fictional novel about Herman Melville features an aging, angry, and drunken man who is wreaking havoc in his unhappy New York home. Decades past his flourishing career as a bestselling writer, he expected his epic novel, Moby Dick, to make him immortal but critics scoffed and readers fled. But, within him is perhaps one great work: the story of a handsome sailor in the Napoleonic Wars, undone by one moment of uncontrollable rage.

"A biography of writer Ralph Ellison that describes his era, his major work--Invisible Man--his life, and the legacy of his writing"--Provided by publisher.

The author recalls the weeks and months following the death of her husband of forty years and the severe illness of their only daughter, and discusses the changes that occurred in her life as a result.