This volume investigates the evolution and development of the American novel from its inception through the mid-twentieth century. Edward C. Wagenknecht, a noted scholar and prolific literary historian, utilizes a chronological and thematic framework to analyze the shifting aesthetic and social concerns of American novelists. He argues that the American novel reflects a distinct national character, shaped by both European influences and the unique pressures of the American experience.

Scholars and students of American literature frequently cite this work as a comprehensive, albeit traditional, overview of the genre's history. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational reference for those studying the development of the American novel.