Beneath the American Renaissance
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Author Description
The Award-winning Beneath The American Renaissance Is A Classic Work On American Literature. It Immeasurably Broadens Our Knowledge Of Our Most Important Literary Period, As First Identified By F.o. Matthiessen's American Renaissance. With Its Combination Of Sharp Critical Insight, Engaging Observation, And Narrative Drive, It Represents The Kind Of Masterful Cultural History For Which David Reynolds Is Known. Here The Major Works Of Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, And Dickinson Receive Striking, Original Readings Set Against The Rich Backdrop Of Contemporary Popular Writing. Now Back In Print, The Volume Includes A New Foreword By Historian Sean Wilentz That Reveals The Book's Impact And Influence. A Magisterial Work Of Criticism And Cultural History, Beneath The American Renaissance Will Fascinate Anyone Interested In The Genesis Of America's Most Significant Literary Epoch And The Iconic Figures Who Defined It.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the cultural and social origins of the American Renaissance by situating canonical literary figures within the broader context of nineteenth-century popular culture. David S. Reynolds, a distinguished scholar of American literature and history, utilizes extensive archival research to challenge the traditional isolation of major authors from their contemporary environment. By examining the interplay between high art and the popular literature of the era, the author argues that the works of writers like Melville and Whitman were deeply influenced by the sensationalist and reformist currents of their time.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of major literary figures including Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, and Dickinson.
- Examination of nineteenth-century popular writing, including sensationalist fiction and reformist tracts.
- Historical contextualization of the American Renaissance period.
- Critical readings that bridge the gap between canonical literature and mass-market cultural trends.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and critics frequently cite this volume as a foundational text for understanding the social dimensions of nineteenth-century American literature. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a comprehensive and rigorous re-evaluation of the literary canon.
Page Count:
656
Publication Date:
2011-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0199976392
ISBN-13:
9780199976393
Non-Fiction
Cultural History
Literary Criticism
American History
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