Nina Baym

Nina Baym (1936-2018) was an American literary critic and academic who specialized in American literature, particularly 19th-century women's writing. She served as a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and was general editor of "The Norton Anthology of American Literature." Her groundbreaking work "Woman's Fiction: A Guide to Novels by and About Women in America, 1820-1870" (1978) established her as a leading scholar in recovering and analyzing forgotten women writers of the nineteenth century. The book challenged prevailing views about American literary history and helped reshape the academic canon. Baym wrote extensively about Nathaniel Hawthorne and published several influential works including "The Shape of Hawthorne's Career" (1976) and "Novels, Readers, and Reviewers: Responses to Fiction in Antebellum America" (1984). Her research consistently emphasized the role of women in American literary history and the importance of popular fiction in understanding cultural development. As editor of "The Norton Anthology of American Literature" from 1991-2012, Baym significantly influenced how American literature was taught in universities across the United States. Her academic contributions earned her numerous honors, including fellowship in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Jay B. Hubbell Medal for lifetime achievement in American literary studies.

Readers value Nina Baym's academic contributions while noting some limitations in accessibility. Her "Norton Anthology of American Literature" receives praise for comprehensive coverage and detailed author backgrounds. Students appreciate the historical context provided but mention the small print size and thin pages as drawbacks. Likes: - Clear analysis of feminist literary perspectives - Strong scholarship and research depth - Thorough biographical information on authors Dislikes: - Dense academic writing style - High textbook prices - Physical format (tiny text, fragile pages) Online ratings: Goodreads: - Norton Anthology: 3.9/5 (2,100+ ratings) - American Women Writers: 3.8/5 (150+ ratings) Amazon: - Norton Anthology: 4.3/5 (1,800+ ratings) - Woman's Fiction: 4.1/5 (25+ ratings) Common reader comment: "Valuable resource but requires determined focus to get through the academic prose." Several note it serves better as a reference than cover-to-cover read.

American Women Writers and the Work of History, 1790-1860 (1995) Analysis of American women authors who used historical writing to participate in creating the nation's culture.

Woman's Fiction: A Guide to Novels by and About Women in America, 1820-1870 (1978) Examination of nineteenth-century American women novelists and the development of domestic fiction.

The Norton Anthology of American Literature (Editor, multiple editions) Comprehensive collection of American literary works from colonial times to the present.

American Women of Letters and the Nineteenth-Century Sciences (2002) Study of nineteenth-century American women writers who engaged with scientific discourse and knowledge.

Novels, Readers, and Reviewers: Responses to Fiction in Antebellum America (1984) Investigation of how fiction was received and criticized in pre-Civil War America.

Feminism and American Literary History: Essays (1992) Collection of essays exploring feminist perspectives in American literary history.

The Shape of Hawthorne's Career (1976) Analysis of Nathaniel Hawthorne's development as a writer through examination of his works.

Women Writers of the American West, 1833-1927 (2011) Survey of women authors who wrote about the American West during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.