A Short History of American Literature

A Short History of American Literature is a succinct survey of over five hundred years of American literature. It conveys the uniqueness of American literature by focusing on the sociopolitical contexts that shaped America’s literary productions. It highlights the cultural myths and values and the specific historical processes that differentiate American literature from the literatures of England and Europe. The book adopts the current trend in the writing of American literary history by foregrounding the early colonial and nationalist writings and the major multicultural literatures, while also presenting the traditional Anglocentric trajectory from the American Renaissance to postmodernism. Its canvas is further extended by a separate chapter on American literature and popular culture, and a comparative timeline juxtaposing American and British literary histories. The Short History is contemporary in its approach and aims to foster an informed and critical appreciation of American literature.