This work investigates how early colonial texts constructed the identity of the 'New World' through performative rhetoric and cultural negotiation. Susan P. Castillo, a scholar of early American literature, examines a diverse array of primary sources from the 16th to the 18th century. She argues that these writings were not merely descriptive records but active performances that sought to define the American landscape and its inhabitants for European audiences. By analyzing the intersection of power, language, and geography, the book provides a framework for understanding how colonial narratives shaped the perception of the Americas during this formative period.

Scholars in the field of early American literature recognize this text as a rigorous examination of the rhetorical foundations of colonial identity. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for researchers and students of historical discourse.