HISTORY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE

The wide use of the author’s History of English Literature the favor with which it has been received in all parts of the United States and the number of earnest requests for a History of American Literature on the same plan have led to the writing of this book. It has not appeared sooner because the author has followed his rule of making a careful first-hand study not only of all the matter discussed but also of a far greater amount which is necessary as a background for judgment and selection. The chapters in the book describe the greatest achievements in American literature from the earliest times until the present. Many pupils fail to obtain a clear idea of great American authors and literary movements because textbook writers and teachers ignore the element of truth in the old adage “The half is greater than the whole” and dwell too much on minor authors and details which could reasonably be expected to interest only a specialist. In this book special attention has been paid not only to the individual work of great authors but also to literary movements ideals and animating principles and to the relation of all these to English literature.