The Book
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.
The Author(s)
Krishna Sen is a former Professor and Head of English at the University of Calcutta, and was the Leverhulme Visiting Professor of English at the University of Leeds.
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.
Table of Contents
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