[A] timely and informative 2-volume tome of who's who in the literary world in the Caribbean region and the Caribbean Diaspora.

New York Amsterdam News

I was impressed with the high quality of the prose; a considerable amount of fact and comment is conveyed painlessly and interestingly… I thoroughly enjoyed my, all too brief canter through the Caribbean literary scene. I am sure others will too.

Reference Reviews

For a region as rich and diverse in cultures, tradition, history, and politics as the Caribbean, reference materials covering Caribbean literature are surprisingly scarce. Perhaps it is that richness and diversity that makes creating a comprehensive encyclopedia of the region's literature difficult--the Caribbean can include or exclude as many areas as any particular editor sees fit. In Encyclopedia of Caribbean Literature, editor Figuerado includes the areas generally considered the Caribbean as well as French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname….The seven-hundred-plus alphabetically arranged entries in this two-volume set focus mostly on writers, covering biographical information, major works, themes, and where the writer fits into the category of Caribbean literature. There are also entries on related topics such as political or artistic movements, cultural identities, literary generations, and so on….Strongly recommended for academic libraries and larger public libraries.

Reference & User Services Quarterly

Aimed at students and general readers, this two-volume reference provides background information on a wide range of Caribbean literature. Arranged alphabetically, most of the more than 700 cross-referenced entries are devoted to individual authors. These feature a biographical profile, a brief analysis of the writer's key works, and a summary of the themes he or she addresses. Other entries cover literary genres, historical figures, cultural leaders, and various special topics. Each entry concludes with a list of relevant books, articles, and websites, and some are also accompanied by a B&W author photo.

Reference & Research Book News

One glimpse[s] the richness and complexity of Caribbean writing in these volumes.

Times Literary Supplement

In the plethora of guides to Hispanic, Latino and Latin American writers, Caribbean literature is frequently just a sidelight. With the appearance of this guide, there is finally a reference that focuses the spotlight squarely on the literary efforts of that region. The coverage is deliberately inclusive and encompasses literature in English, French and Spanish, as well as the Creole of Haiti. From slave narratives and abolitionist tracts to dub poetry and exile literature, the full historical spectrum of Caribbean writing is surveyed….D. H. Figueredo has long served as the Latin American bibliographer for the New York Public Library. Many of the 41 contributors and advisory board members work in similar capacities at other research libraries. The remaining contributors are all university teachers or professional journalists. Their scholarly guide will be welcomed in public and academic libraries.

Lawrence Looks at Books