Asian American literature dates back to the close of the 19th
century, and during the years following World War II it
significantly expanded in volume and diversity. Monumental in
scope, this encyclopedia surveys Asian American literature from
its origins through 2007. Included are more than 270
alphabetically arranged entries on writers, major works,
significant historical events, and important terms and concepts.
Thus the encyclopedia gives special attention to the historical,
social, cultural, and legal contexts surrounding Asian American
literature and central to the Asian American experience. Each
entry is written by an expert contributor and cites works for
further reading, and the encyclopedia closes with a selected,
general bibliography of essential print and electronic
resources. While literature students will value this
encyclopedia as a guide to writings by Asian Americans, the
encyclopedia also supports the social studies curriculum by
helping students use literature to learn about Asian American