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From Puritanism to Postmodernism

A History of American Literature
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( 285 ratings, 34 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
From Puritanism to Postmodernism: A History of American Literature offers a vibrant and engaging exploration of American literature's evolution from its Puritan roots to the complexities of postmodernism. The book thoughtfully examines key movements such as realism, romanticism, and modernism, reflecting on the works of notable authors including Poe, Melville, Fitzgerald, Pound, Wallace Stevens, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Thomas Pynchon. This Routledge Classics edition enriches the experience with a new preface, foreword, and a revealing interview with co-author Richard Ruland, providing deep insight into American fiction and the authors' collaboration.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers seeking a thorough and accessible introduction to American literature, this book suits students, scholars, and general enthusiasts of literary and cultural history who appreciate a rich contextual understanding of literary movements within their social and historical frameworks.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Widely acknowledged as a contemporary classic that has introduced thousands of readers to American literature, From Puritanism to Postmodernism: A History of American Literature brilliantly charts the fascinating story of American literature from the Puritan legacy to the advent of postmodernism.

From realism and romanticism to modernism and postmodernism, it examines and reflects on the work of a rich panoply of writers, including Poe, Melville, Fitzgerald, Pound, Wallace Stevens, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Thomas Pynchon.

Characterised throughout by a vibrant and engaging style, it is a superb introduction to American literature, placing it thoughtfully in its rich social, ideological, and historical context.

A tour de force of both literary and historical writing, this Routledge Classics edition includes a new preface by co-author Richard Ruland, a new foreword by Linda Wagner-Martin, and a fascinating interview with Richard Ruland, in which he reflects on the nature of American fiction and his collaboration with Malcolm Bradbury. It is published here for the first time.

Series: Routledge Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised by The Washington Post for its elegant coherence and illuminating connections between writers, the book is lauded as a comprehensive and highly informative map of American literature by The New York Times. Library Journal highlights it as an excellent and readable survey of nearly three centuries of writing, while Kirkus Reviews commends its balanced and vibrant account of the emergence of a unique American literary identity.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781138642065

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 11 April 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Routledge

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 742g

Pages: 470

About the Author

Malcolm Bradbury (1932-2000) was Professor of Literature and American Studies first at the University of Birmingham (1961-65) and then at the University of East Anglia from 1970 until his retirement in 1995. Bradbury became a Commander of the British Empire in 1991 for services to literature and was made a Knight Bachelor in the New Year Honours 2000, again for services to literature.

Richard Ruland is Professor Emeritus of English, American, and Comparative Literature at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. After teaching in the English and American Studies programs at Yale University for several years, he has been a member of the English Department faculty at Washington University from 1967 until his recent retirement.

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