This article reveals the differences between the character Kunta Kinte and the historical record concerning African males in the preslavery period. Kunta's non-African behaviors include displays of blind anger and rage, prudishness, and actions unknown in his Mandinka culture. These represent the many misrepresentations and ambiguities in Alex…

Critiques five novels by James Salter--THE HUNTERS, THE ARM OF FLESH, A SPORT AND A PASTIME, LIGHT YEARS, and SOLO FACES. Notes that Salter's works have been ignored by literary critics and the public though praised by other authors. (MM)

By viewing rock lyrics as a vehicle that demands a sociopolitical response, rock and roll critics place in the hands of rock artists a responsibility that is not warranted. Particularly with regard to political messages, rock and roll should be viewed from a more individualized perspective. (BJV)

Describes the vision that prompted the author to place the characters of her prize-winning novel in a small West Virginia town--a place where love has no conditions on it. Thanks readers for sharing her vision. (ARH)

Recalls the captivating characters; tidy, confident writing and winsome illustrations in the 50-year-old minor masterpiece, "Mr. Popper's Penguins." (SD)

Discusses the importance of making nonfiction a pleasure to read. (EL)

The winner of the 1986 Boston Globe-Horn Book award for nonfiction discusses her work. (FL)

This acceptance speech for an award honoring "Dear Mr. Henshaw," a book about feelings of a lonely child of divorce intended for eight-, nine-, and ten-year-olds, highlights children's letters to author. Changes in society that affect children, the inception of "Dear Mr. Henshaw," and children's reactions to books are…

Reprints the text of Ms. Cleary's Newbery medal acceptance speech in which she gives personal history concerning her development as a writer and her response to the letters she receives from children. (CRH)

Describes in brief some of the personal background of Beverly Cleary and attempts to portray some of the attributes of her writing that have made her popular with two generations of readers. (CRH)

In ten countries today--but not in the United States--each time a book is borrowed from a public library, its author is credited with a small payment or library usage royalty. This system, known as Public Lending Right, or PLR, is described. (MLW)

During the course of an interview, Terry Eagleton, one of England's foremost Marxist critics, talks about his political and critical position and about related contemporary developments. (HOD)

This article deals with problem created by numerous schemes in use for transliteration of Cyrillic alphabet when attempting to obtain retrieval of Russian author's works in scientific databases available through Dialog, Bibliographic Retrieval Services, and System Development Corporation. Highlights include basic strategy and complications of…

A noted writer of historical biographies for children describes her attempts to get "inside" historical personages by studying the times in which they lived. (RBW)

Discusses the biographical aspects of James Thurber's classic humorous fairy tale, "Many Moons." (HOD)