American Literature [antikvár]

EDITORIAL FOREWORD The editors have been allowed a full freedom in their selection of authors, and a word is needed about the principles of selection used and the emphasis of their interests. We have attempted to provide from our somewhat different cultural and critical standpoints, a broad coverage of the most important names in American writing from the early period of settlement through to the immediate present, including figures of historical as well as directly literary interest. We have, however, deliberately chosen to give particularly strong representation to twentieth-century writing. In this period American literature becomes markedly an international literature - and very much a contemporary international literature, influencing practice and attracting attention in many countries of the world. It is for this reason that we have laid special emphasis on including writers of the century and indeed of the immediate present who seem of interest, even though this has meant unequal coverage of minor figures - those of earlier periods are less fully represented (though we have attended throughout to minor figures who seem to us of cultural significance). The reader thumbing through the book may thus find in it many contemporary writers of whom he has probably not heard previously; indeed it could be read selectively through as a short guide to current developments and tendencies. Generally we have gone for liveliness rather than solemnity, and critical judgement rather than simple biographical record. So the reader might do well from time to time to check the author of an entry in the List of Contributors, since he has been encouraged to give a personal judgement. In addition we have generally tried to suggest that American writing can be illuminated by seeing it in its cultural context. So influential American thinkers -Parrington and Veblen, William James and Marshal! McLuhan, etc. - are included. So are figures of popular significance - McGufl"ey and Horatio Alger, Margaret Mitchell and James Whitcomb Riley, Zane Grey and Edgar Guest. There are also a small number of subject entries designed to suggest important features of American literary thought and experience - on the Connecticut Wits and the Transcendental-ists, on Expatriates and the Lost Generation, on Realism, Naturalism and Veritism and on Little Magazines. Other non-author entries dealing with important publications - The Bay Psalm Book, The Federalist, etc. - are present. We have normally followed the practice of dating works by their first appearance, whether in England or America. Many American works of the nineteenth century were first published in England to secure copyright advantages, just as certain colonial works appeared in London which still, despite the eariy appearance of American printing presses, remained as a central publishing capital. But, to avoid proliferating publishing details, we have thus diverged from the practice of the companion volumes in the series and have not given the place of a non-English publication where it is American. The brief bibliography which concludes the section is intended to suggest where