A History of American Literature, Volume 7

Author: (American) Sacvan Bercovitch, Editor-in-Chief / Sun Hong, Editor
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Cambridge History of American Literature explores the broad range of American literature, covering all its branches and involving emerging and established trends. It includes essays by scholars and critics, whose efforts have made this field an important component of literary academic research, both now and in the future. These authors have synthesized nearly three decades of American literary criticism in this collection, thus speaking for both the divisions and the continuities between two generations of academic achievements. The narrative sections occupy a significant proportion of the book, providing a broader perspective and a more grand scale of exploration of American literary history compared to previous editions. Meanwhile, the voice of traditional literary criticism, while forming the background of these narrative sections, also contributes to the diverse interests that characterize contemporary literary studies. Cambridge History of American Literature offers extensive, interdisciplinary discussions on various literary genres and works from different periods in American literature. The expansion of American literary materials is partly due to some works that were previously overlooked but have recently been rediscovered and gained attention. As the scope of American literary materials expands, so does the methods used to study them, both in quantity and diversity. The comprehensive academic and critical enterprise reflected in Cambridge History of American Literature explores diversity in social, cultural, intellectual, and aesthetic dimensions. Compared to previous discussions, it also demonstrates a richer concept of authority in literary studies.