A Sourcebook of American Literary Journalism: Representative Writers in an Emerging Genre

A wide range of writers are brought together in this discussion of literary journalism of the 19th and 20th centuries. Such writing was not new journalism, therefore simply a type of realistic fiction. Rather, it can be examined as a distinct literary form, a type of cultural expression that can be defined and characterized. 35 essays by contributing scholars analyze major writers of this literary genre or writers known for a major work in the genre, and there are short pieces for nineteen additional figures. The volume introduction discusses definitions and characteristics of literary journalism, with reference to the patterns of reality depicted, and identifies two main types: those works characterized by immersion and shorter, more impressionistic pieces. The roots of this new journalism are traced, and ideas of the theorists of this genre are explicated. Conville also provides the results of his research - uncovering primary sources of literary journalism.