Cambridge History of American Literature Prose Works

Author: Sacvan Bercovitch
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-01-17
Features: The Cambridge History of American Literature explores the broad range of American literature, covering emerging and established trends across all its branches. It includes contributions from scholars and critics, whose efforts have made this field an important and continuing component of literary academic research. The authors of this collection synthesize nearly three decades of American literary criticism, thus speaking for both the divisions and the continuities between two generations of scholarly achievement. The narrative sections occupy a significant portion of the book, providing a more expansive and grand perspective on the history of American literature compared to previous editions. At the same time, the voice of traditional literary criticism, while forming the backdrop of these narratives, also interacts with the diverse interests that shape contemporary literary studies. The Cambridge History of American Literature offers extensive, interdisciplinary discussions of 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. Alongside this expansion, the methods for studying these materials have grown rapidly in both quantity and diversity. The comprehensive academic and critical enterprise reflected in The Cambridge History of American Literature examines a variety of aspects, including social, cultural, intellectual, and aesthetic dimensions. Compared to previous discussions, it also demonstrates a richer and more authoritative concept of literary studies.