Cambridge History of American Literature. Volume 7: Prose Works (1940-1990)

Author: Sacvan Bercovitch (USA)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The Cambridge History of American Literature explores a broad range of American literary branches, encompassing emerging and established trends. It includes contributions from scholars and critics, whose efforts have made this field an important component of literary academic research, both now and in the future. These authors compile the achievements of American literary criticism over nearly three decades, thus speaking for both the divisions and the continuities between two generations of academic accomplishments. The narrative sections occupy a significant portion of the book, providing a broader perspective and a more grandiose approach to the study of American literary history compared to previous editions. Meanwhile, the voice of traditional literary criticism, while serving as the backdrop for these narratives, also interacts with the diverse interests that shape the characteristics of contemporary literary studies. The 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 corpus 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 The Cambridge History of American Literature explores a variety of dimensions, including social, cultural, intellectual, and aesthetic aspects. At the same time, it demonstrates a richer concept of authority in literary studies compared to previous discussions.