About This Book
The book offers a chronological survey of American literature from colonial beginnings through nineteenth-century poetry, fiction, and drama, tracing major movements and authors while emphasizing representative works that illustrate the nation's evolving intellectual and patriotic self-awareness. Each chapter treats influential writers or groups, provides focused readings of one or two key works, and supplies study topics, bibliographies, and suggested editions for students. Supplemental materials include maps, chronological charts, an appendix summarizing important magazines, and indexes to aid classroom use and further reading.