Magill’s Literary Annual: 2012

Reviews of significant fiction and nonfiction published in 2011. Provides coverage for works that are likely to be of particular interest to the general reader, that reflect the publishing trends of a given year, and that will stand up to the test of time. Each year, Magill’s Literary Annual critically evaluates 200 major examples of serious literature published during the previous calendar year. The philosophy behind our selection process is to cover works that are likely to be of interest to general readers, that are written by authors being taught in literature programs, and that will stand the test of time. By filtering the thousands of books published every year down to 200 notable titles, the editors have provided the busy librarian with an excellent reader’s advisory tool and patrons with fodder for book discussion groups and a guide for choosing worthwhile reading material. ORGANISATION AND FORMAT The reviews are arranged alphabetically by title. The text of each essay-review analyses the focus, intent, and relative success of the author, as well as the makeup and point of view of the work under discussion. Essays are supplemented by a list of
Review Sources
for additional study. Every essay includes a sidebar offering a brief biography of the author or authors. MAGILL’S LITERARY ANNUAL, 2012 This year’s selection includes Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Charles Dickens: a Life, The Fifth Witness, Horoscopes for the Dead, The King James Bible: A Short History from Tyndale to Today, The Marriage Plot, The Seamstress and the Wind , and Swamplandia! .