This collection of essays investigates the evolution and defining characteristics of the American novel throughout the twentieth century. A. Walton Litz, a distinguished scholar of English literature, synthesizes decades of critical analysis to examine how American writers navigated the shifting cultural landscape of their time. By focusing on both canonical figures and stylistic movements, Litz provides a rigorous framework for understanding the formal innovations that distinguish modern American prose.

Experts frequently cite this work as a foundational text for students of American literature due to its precise analytical depth. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a standard reference for those studying the development of the modern novel.