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.
Krishna Sen is Visiting Professor at the Women's Studies Research Centre, University of Calcutta. She was formerly Professor and Head at the Department of English, University of Calcutta.
Ashok Sengupta was formerly Professor and Head at the Department of English, and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Commerce, University of Kalyani, West Bengal.
Political Map of the United States of America A Note on References 1. The History and Culture of the United States of America Krishna Sen 2. From the Early Narratives to the Colonial Era Ashok Sengupta 3. From Emerson to Twain: The American Renaissance Ashok Sengupta 4. From Howells to Miller: Realism, Naturalism, Regionalism and Modernism Ashok Sengupta 5. The Beat Generation to American Postmodernism Krishna Sen 6. African American Literature Krishna Sen 7. Native American, Mexican American and Multicultural American Literatures Krishna Sen 8. American Literature and Popular Culture Ashok Sengupta A Comparative Timeline for American Literature Krishna Sen Select Bibliography Index