Understanding contemporary American literature

A critical study of the work of award-winning African-American playwright August Wilson, examining the thematic structure of his plays, their placement within the context of American drama, and the uniquely African-American experiences and traditions Wilson dramatizes.

Presents an overview of science fiction during the formative years of the genre, from 1926 to 1970.

Provides a survey of the four major Beat writers: Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, William S. Burroughs, and Gregory Corso.