ABSTRACT

First published between 1982 and 1983, this series examines the peculiarly American cultural context out of which the nation’s literature has developed. Covering the years from 1620 to 1830, this first volume of American Literature in Context examines a range of texts from the writings of the Puritan settlers through the declaration of Independence to the novels of Fenimore Cooper. In doing so, it shows how early Americans thought about their growing nation, their arguments for immigration, for political and cultural independence, and the doubts they experienced in this ambitious project.

This book will be of interest to those studying American literature and American studies.

part One|60 pages

America as Type and Thing

chapter |5 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|24 pages

Captain John Smith (1580–1631)

chapter 2|13 pages

Robert Cushman (c. 1599–1625)

chapter 3|16 pages

William Bradford (1590–1657)

part Two|61 pages

‘Rise, Wash and Address Powerful Goodness’

chapter 4|18 pages

Benjamin Franklin (1706–90)

chapter 5|16 pages

Thomas Paine (1737–1809)

chapter 6|25 pages

The Declaration of Independence

part Three|74 pages

Retrospective Revolutions

chapter 9|14 pages

Washington Irving (1783–1859)

chapter 10|20 pages

James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851)