Even among scholars of Jewish literature, Jewish American women writers have been largely neglected. Nevertheless, these women have made an enormous contribution to literature and culture. This reference explores the extraordinary achievement of Jewish American women novelists, poets, and playwrights who have written in English. Every effort was made to provide a representative selection of writers, and the final list was determined after consultation with specialists and scholars.

The volume is composed mainly of entries arranged alphabetically by writer. Many of these women have an indisputable place in the literary canon, while others are relative newcomers to the field. Still others are being rediscovered after years of neglect. The profiles provide a biography, bibliography, and survey of criticism for each author. Each also provides an analysis of the writer's work by a scholar in Jewish American literature, women's studies, or a related field. An introductory essay defines the scope of Jewish American women's literature, while a special chapter is devoted to writers of autobiographies who document the experience of Jewish women in America.