American Tensions: Literature of Identity and the Search for Social Justice

This stunning anthology features literary artists in America's social justice arena from 1980 on. Selected fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction challenge the myth of a classless democracy, redefine the family, deconstruct American notions of race and patriotism, and track the growth of environmental awareness within the American psyche. The collection draws connections among groups traditionally siloed by race, gender, class, or sexuality.

Authors include Jonis Agee, Elizabeth Alexander, Sherman J. Alexie, Dorothy Allison, Marvin Bell, Barrie Jean Borich, Nickole Brown, Philip Bryant, James Cihlar, Alison Deming, Anthony Doerr, Mark Doty, Heid Erdrich, Louise Erdrich, B.H. Fairchild, Nick Flynn, Kenny Fries, Eric Gansworth, Ray Gonzalez, J.C. Hallman, Patricia Hampl, Greg Hewett, Scott Hightower, Tony Hoagland, Linda Hogan, Javier O. Huerta, Deborah Keenan, Yusef Komunyakaa, Ed Bok Lee, Bobbie Ann Mason, Bill McKibben, Donald Morrill, David Mura, Kristin Naca, Mark Nowak, D.A. Powell, Hilda Raz, Adrienne Rich, Scott Russell Sanders, Patricia Smith, Brian Turner, Emily C. Watson, Diane Wilson.