The Guide to Modern World Literature is a reference book by Martin Seymour-Smith that aims to describe every important 20th-century author (as of 1985), in all languages, in an encyclopedic presentation.[1] It was first published in 1973 with a completely revised and updated version in 1985 called The New Guide to Modern World Literature at 1,396 pages.[1]
The book covers an estimated 2,700 authors and more than 7,500 titles.[1] It contains a total of 33 chapters that treat all modern national literatures individually or in groups.[1] African and Caribbean literature is treated collectively; so are the Baltic, French and Belgian, Indian and Pakistani, Jewish, Latin American, Scandinavian, and both Eastern and Western Minor Literatures.[1] A chapter each is given to American, Arabic, Australian, British, Bulgarian, Canadian, Chinese, Czechoslovakian, Dutch, Finnish, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, New Zealand, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, South African, Spanish, Turkish, Tamil and Yugoslavian Literature.[1]
It was perhaps Seymour-Smith's best known work.[2] "The book was such a thorough study of 20th-century poetry, drama and fiction that some critics doubted it was the work of one person -- until they read it and found Mr. Seymour-Smith's distinctive voice and deeply felt opinions in every entry.".[2] It was described by one reviewer as "an amazing feat of a book, about half a million words long; half the size of Proust, nearly as big as the Bible".[3] Janet Seymour-Smith, his wife, helped in the creating of the work - "when some expressed incredulity that Martin could actually have read all the authors on whom he passed judgement in that vast but so lively volume he used, cheerfully, to confess that he hadn't. Some were undoubtedly left to Janet."[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefMichael J. Marcuse (October 13, 1985). "The New Guide to Modern World Literature by Martin Seymour-Smith (Peter Bedrick/Harper & Row: $60; 1,413 pp.)". LA Times. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
^ abSarah Lyall (July 19, 1998). "Martin Seymour-Smith, 70, Critic, Biographer and Poet". The New York Times. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
^ abRobert Nye (16 September 1998). "Obituary: Janet Seymour-Smith". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
This article about a non-fiction book on literary criticism is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
guide, modern, world, literature, reference, book, martin, seymour, smith, that, aims, describe, every, important, 20th, century, author, 1985, languages, encyclopedic, presentation, first, published, 1973, with, completely, revised, updated, version, 1985, ca. The Guide to Modern World Literature is a reference book by Martin Seymour Smith that aims to describe every important 20th century author as of 1985 in all languages in an encyclopedic presentation 1 It was first published in 1973 with a completely revised and updated version in 1985 called The New Guide to Modern World Literature at 1 396 pages 1 The book covers an estimated 2 700 authors and more than 7 500 titles 1 It contains a total of 33 chapters that treat all modern national literatures individually or in groups 1 African and Caribbean literature is treated collectively so are the Baltic French and Belgian Indian and Pakistani Jewish Latin American Scandinavian and both Eastern and Western Minor Literatures 1 A chapter each is given to American Arabic Australian British Bulgarian Canadian Chinese Czechoslovakian Dutch Finnish German Greek Hungarian Italian Japanese New Zealand Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian South African Spanish Turkish Tamil and Yugoslavian Literature 1 It was perhaps Seymour Smith s best known work 2 The book was such a thorough study of 20th century poetry drama and fiction that some critics doubted it was the work of one person until they read it and found Mr Seymour Smith s distinctive voice and deeply felt opinions in every entry 2 It was described by one reviewer as an amazing feat of a book about half a million words long half the size of Proust nearly as big as the Bible 3 Janet Seymour Smith his wife helped in the creating of the work when some expressed incredulity that Martin could actually have read all the authors on whom he passed judgement in that vast but so lively volume he used cheerfully to confess that he hadn t Some were undoubtedly left to Janet 3 References edit a b c d e f Michael J Marcuse October 13 1985 The New Guide to Modern World Literature by Martin Seymour Smith Peter Bedrick Harper amp Row 60 1 413 pp LA Times Retrieved January 2 2013 a b Sarah Lyall July 19 1998 Martin Seymour Smith 70 Critic Biographer and Poet The New York Times Retrieved January 2 2013 a b Robert Nye 16 September 1998 Obituary Janet Seymour Smith The Independent Archived from the original on 2022 06 18 Retrieved January 2 2013 nbsp This article about a non fiction book on literary criticism is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article about a reference book is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Guide to Modern World Literature amp oldid 1149125945, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
