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The oral traditions in Ile-Ife; the Yoruba people and their book of enlightenment.

In order to explore the oral traditions in Ile-Ife, the political, economic and cultural capital of the Yoruba people in the Southwest of what is now known as Nigeria, Yemi D. Ogunyemi, a poet, novelist and scholar of the African Literatures in Africa and in Diaspora, has produced a classical research work on Yoruba culture, and Ifa Divination--the Book of Enlightenment, embodying philosophy, literature and religion. Undoubtedly, the most significant part of Ogunyemi's investigation (some from the keepers of traditions) is on oral literature in which Ijapa, hitherto depicted as a four-legged tortoise-like protagonist is being found to be a human being of flesh and blood. Other new and important chapters/investigations include The Book of Enlightenment, The Cultural Schools of Philosophy and The Bringers of Light. (Annotation ©2010 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Sydney Owenson, Lady Morgan and the politics of style.

Sidney Owenson, despite her name, was one of the most vocal proponents for Irish dignity of the early nineteenth century. her novel The Wild Irish Girl was immensely popular and struck a blow for both Irish and female rights. Donovan examines Owenson's life and work in terms of style: literary, political and sartorial. Owenson's life was an exercise in a style that was often excessive in clothing and behavior. She seems to have inherited a flare for dramatic self promotion from her father, an actor, which she used to great effect. However, as this study shows, her political, national and feminist beliefs underlaid her writing as well as her grand gestures. An interesting look at a writer who has been long neglected. (Annotation ©2010 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Voting in American elections; the shaping of the American political universe since 1788.

Burnham (government, U. of Texas, Austin) provides tables of statistics on American voting behavior since 1788. Statistics show voter turnout for the nation and its various regions throughout history; the potential electorate for each state and the nation at two-year intervals; elections to the US House of Representatives; voting data for the state of New York since 1828; select congressional and gubernatorial data; state gubernatorial elections; data for presidential elections and the US House of Representatives; and the 2008 elections. (Annotation ©2010 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Washington Irving and Spain; the romantic movement, the re/creation of Islamic Andalusia and the critical reception.

Wallhead (English philology, University of Granada) commemorates the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the death of Washington Irving with a look at his influential book The Alhambra which he wrote as a result of a visit to Granada made while he was researching his biography of Christopher Columbus. Wallhead begins with the influence of Irving's Spanish writings in Spain. She reviews the work of Spanish and American authors, including dissertations, biographies and monographs. She also looks at tourist events and the "Washington Irving trail" one may follow through Spain. The second half of the study looks at Irving in terms of the Romantic movement and gives the Spanish framework for the writings he composed there. Following this, the three books written by Irving about Spain are discussed. (Annotation ©2010 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)