---

Classics / African American Studies / Literature & Criticism

---

 

Ulysses in Black Ralph Ellison, Classicism, and African American Literature Patrice D. Rankine Wisconsin Studies in Classics “A powerful and pioneering study that creatively links the rich traditions of classical antiquity to contemporary black thought. I highly recommend it.”—Cornel West, Princeton University "Ulysses in Black demonstrates that, similar to their white counterparts, African American authors—including Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, and Countee Cullen—have been students of classical languages, literature, and mythologies by such writers as Homer, Euripides, and Seneca. Ultimately, this unique study of black classicism becomes an exploration of America’s broader cultural integrity, one that is inclusive and historic. “As reader friendly as a tightly reasoned, well-referenced scholarly text can be, this book argues persuasively for a wider integration of classic European texts with African American literature. . . . Rankine makes an important contribution to the fields of African American literary scholarship and American cultural studies. [Ulysses in Black] should be read and reread.”—Choice “Rankine’s study does not simply introduce the influence of ‘the classics’ on the writing of African-American authors; he asks us to reconceive American cultural identity through the work of African-American authors such as Ellison. It is a worthy effort and an excellent read.” —Lesliee Antonette, Multicultural Review • Selected as an Outstanding Academic Title by Choice magazine Patrice D. Rankine is associate professor of classics and assistant head of foreign languages and literatures at Purdue University and has served as director of Purdue’s Interdisciplinary Program in Classics. For more information regarding publicity and reviews contact Chris Caldwell, our publicity manager, phone: (608) 263-0734, email: publicity@uwpress.wisc.edu Of related interest Paracritical Hinge Essays, Talks, Notes, Interviews Nathaniel Mackey Highlighting Mackey’s multifaceted work, this book embraces topics ranging from Walt Whitman’s interest in phrenology to the marginalization of African American experiential writing; from Kamau Brathwaite’s “calibanistic” language practices to Federico García Lorca’s flamenco aesthetic of duende and its continuing repercussions; from H.D.’s desert measure and coastal way of knowing to the altered spatial disposition of Miles Davis’s trumpet sound. Contemporary North American Poetry

November 2006 LC: 2006008598 PS 272 pp.  6 x 9 ISBN-13: 978-0-299-22000-6 Cloth $45.00 s The first paperback edition will be available September 2008 ISBN-13: 978-0-299-22004-4 Paper $24.95 t Accumulate titles in the Shopping Cart by clicking on the bulleted lines below. You can submit your order electronically, paying for it with MasterCard or Visa. Click here for further explanation of shopping cart feature. Never ordered from us before? Read this first. Also available in e-book format, visit www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/digitalinfo.html

Home | Books | Journals | Events | Textbooks | Authors | Related | Search | Order | Contact

If you have trouble accessing any page in this web site, contact Kirt Murray, Web manager. E-mail: kdmurray@wisc.edu or by phone at 608-263-0733. Updated June 12, 2008 © 2008, The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System