American classical essays

Author: Dong Hengxun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: In the history of American prose, the most epoch-making event is undoubtedly the rise of the New England Transcendentalists led by Emerson. The contribution of the Transcendentalists lies in reexamining beauty under the banner of idealism and liberating American thought. Looking at American prose, its speculative nature is very prominent. Whether in Emerson's letters, William James's Habit, Melville's Hawthorne or Frost's Poetry Teaching, readers can feel the powerful impact of profound thoughts. They are not only prose writers but also thinkers and philosophers, sometimes witty, sometimes humorous, sometimes stern, analyzing history and society, dissecting life, and moving freely, both profound and extraordinary in demeanor. Another striking feature of American prose is its realism. Most of the writing is natural, unpretentious, and free of excessive embellishment, rarely featuring overly sentimental or ornate works.