About This Book
An essay argues that American literary development is impeded by vast geography, cultural fragmentation, and an enduring Puritan New England influence that imposed moralistic, formulaic narratives. It traces how immigrant influx and regional diversity complicate efforts to forge a national literature, and observes a growing modern movement reshaping painting, architecture, and writing. The writer examines contemporary restlessness among younger artists, the rejection of old social norms, and the challenge for authors to express new impulses amid commercial and historical constraints. Practical consequences for style and subject, and suggestions for how American writing might become more vital, conclude the discussion.
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