'Literary Journalism Studies': new review of "Seeking to Understand the World: Literary Journalism of Vincent Sheean"
Congratulations to Anish Dave (Stephen F. Austin State University), the author of the book 'Seeking to Understand the World: Literary Journalism of Vincent Sheean' for receiving a review from Neil Stubbs (Camosun College, Canada) appearing in'Literary Journalism Studies', , Vol. 15, No. 2, December 2024 • Vol. 16, No. 1, June 2025:
[...] The extent of the author’s research is admirable and makes this book a valuable resource for seasoned scholars, as well as a useful primer for those who are just beginning their studies of literary techniques and their application in the field of reportage. [...]
[Extract from book review on 'Literary Journalism Studies', , Vol. 15, No. 2, December 2024 • Vol. 16, No. 1, June 2025. Reviewer: Neil Stubbs (Camosun College, Canada) https://s35767.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/23-BkRev8_Stubbs_Daves-Sheean-Bio.pdf ]
The book is available to order here: Seeking to Understand the World: Literary Journalism of Vincent Sheean
Vincent Sheean, a groundbreaking American foreign correspondent and author, is known for reporting from Europe, North Africa, and Asia, writing news reports, articles, and books. A few books and articles have described Vincent Sheean’s life, and briefly discussed his major nonfiction books. However, no book-length study or article has closely examined his nonfiction books. 'Seeking to Understand the World: Literary Journalism of Vincent Sheean', textually analyzes his five nonfiction, journalistic books to examine them for characteristics of literary journalism. Spanning nearly the entirety of his journalistic career, these books include 'Personal History' (1935), 'Not Peace but a Sword' (1939), 'Between the Thunder and the Sun' (1943), 'Lead, Kindly Light' (1949), and 'Nehru: The Years of Power' (1960). Set in different world areas, the books illuminate events as disparate as the Riffian war, the Spanish Civil War, the infamous Munich pact, the Nazi bombing of London, and the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Sheean’s books provide an in-depth, personal look at these and related events. This book includes analysis of Sheean’s works, finding that they have several prominent characteristics of literary journalism: stories and scenes, cohesive structure, lifelike characters, vivid description, well-crafted sentences, immersive reporting, among others.
Edition 1st
ISBN 978-1-64889-663-7
Published in September 2023
Page last updated on October 15th 2025. All information correct at the time, but subject to change.
