Angels and Outcasts: An Anthology of Deaf Characters in Literature

by Trent Batson (Editor), Eugene Bergman (Editor)

Dickens, Welty, and Turgenev are only three of the master storytellers in Angels and Outcasts. This remarkable collection of 14 short stories offers insights into what it means to be deaf in a hearing world. The book is divided into three parts: the first section explores works by nineteenth-century authors; the second section concentrates on stories by twentieth-century writers; and the final section focuses on stories by authors who are themselves deaf. Each section begins with an introduction by the editors and each story is preceded by a preface. Angels and Outcasts concludes with an annotated bibliography of other prose works about the Deaf experience. In addition to fascinating reading, it provides valuable insights into the world of Deaf people.

347 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Shomeret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Angels and Outcasts is an anthology of stories and excerpts focused on the deaf published by Gallaudet University. It came to my attention because Gallaudet has recently published a second anthology dealing with newer writing called Outcasts and Angels. For the first two sections of the anthology dealing with fiction by non-deaf writers, I mainly valued the introductions rather than the stories themselves. The introductions to each story explain how it reflected attitudes toward the deaf during the period when it was written. Although a number of the authors are well-known, their literary status didn't guarantee that they understood the deaf well enough to portray them in fiction.For some authors represented in this anthology deaf characters were symbolic. While it is the prerogative of writers to include symbolic characters, I was looking for stories about real people. I was putting myself in the place of deaf readers who might pick up a book focusing on a deaf character hoping to find someone who is like themselves or maybe even a role model who will inspire them. I have always looked for female protagonists who inspire me. I would have felt very depressed if I never found any.The section devoted to the writings of deaf authors contained the piece that I found most insightful. It was the excerpt from The Deaf Mute Howls by Albert Ballin. Ballin sounds like he was a brilliant and creative individual. I am now much more motivated to obtain a copy of The Deaf Mute Howls so I can discover more about his life.The Ballin excerpt alone made this anthology worth reading, but I am looking forward to reading Gallaudet's second anthology Outcasts and Angels.

For my complete review, see my December blog post "Angels and Outcasts: Portrayals of the Deaf in Literature" at http://www.maskedpersona.blogspot.com

[Leigh Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deaf reader reviewing books with deaf characters. This book is listed on my ranked list of books with deaf characters.

Each section and story is prefaced with context and analyses, a bit like my reviews of works. They are more focused on what the deaf character(s) do/represent in the story than analyzing authenticity, but they do comment on that as well. Highly recommended for those interested in understanding trends of deaf characters in earlier works.