American Women Writers: A Biographical Dictionary is an ambitious effort on the part of Carol Kort. It provides biographical information on more than 150 women writers associated with American letters from many different genres and time periods, including such luminaries as Abigail Adams, Mary Rowlandson, Anne Rice, and Annie Dillard. The scope of this volume is very broad, going far beyond works and authors typically described as "literary," and this, perhaps, is its greatest strength.

Each entry provides a glimpse into the writer's life and a list of the works credited to her. For about 50 authors, Kort has included photographs as well. In addition to the encyclopedic entries, the volume includes a general bibliography of American women writers, a comprehensive index, and three different subject indexes organized by genre, decade of birth, and subject matter.

In 288 pages, it is difficult to give extensive information about so many authors covering such a wide range of subject matter over such a long time period. For this reason, this volume would work best for those teaching in K-12 or in introductory college courses in literature or women's studies. While some entries are as long as three pages, including that of Abigail Adams, others are less than one hundred words. The information given is factual, but it lacks analysis. In looking at how Kort chooses to prioritize and balance the length of her entries, it appears that this particular volume was not intended to portray the range of cultural diversity within the American experience. Also troubling to me was the fact that the entries offered little in the way of scholarship or insight into the actual writing these women have been engaged in.

Given the limitations imposed by the breadth of material and the book's length, this volume would be valuable for those who are seeking to expose students to the idea that American women have made significant contributions to literature in the past, and they continue to do so today. It would be an excellent addition to a young adult library.