About this item
Highlights
- The book describes the movement by African American authors from slave narratives and antebellum newspapers into fiction writing, and the subsequent developments of black genre fiction through the present.
- Agatha Awards (Nonfiction) 2008 4th Winner, Anthony Awards (Critical Nonfiction) 2009 4th Winner
- About the Author: Frankie Y. Bailey is an associate professor in the University at Albany's School of Criminal Justice.
- 277 Pages
- Literary Criticism, Mystery & Detective
Description
Book Synopsis
The book describes the movement by African American authors from slave narratives and antebellum newspapers into fiction writing, and the subsequent developments of black genre fiction through the present. It analyzes works by modern African American mystery writers, focusing on sleuths, the social locations of crime, victims and offenders, the notion of "doing justice," and the role of African American cultural vernacular in mystery fiction. A final section focuses on readers and reading, examining African American mystery writers' access to the marketplace and the issue of the "double audience" raised by earlier writers.
Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.
Review Quotes
"engagingly written...an important addition"-Mystery Scene; "Ms. Bailey's depth of knowledge on the subject is staggering"-Scarlet; "Frankie Bailey knows a thing or two about crime writing"-timesunion.com.
About the Author
Frankie Y. Bailey is an associate professor in the University at Albany's School of Criminal Justice. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America and currently serves as the secretary and a director-at-large of the Board of Directors. She is also a member of Sisters in Crime and of Romance Writers of America.
