American literature is literary work produced in the United States and its preceding colonies. Historically, its literary tradition begins as linked to the broader tradition of English literature. However, unique American characteristics and the breadth of its production usually now cause it to be considered a separate path and tradition.
Since the publication of its first novel in the 18th century, American fiction has come a long way in content, expression and popularity. The book studies the important works of eminent American fiction writers like William Faulkner, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker and Ernest Hemingway.
The Sound and the Fury is a novel written by the American author William Faulkner. It employs a number of narrative styles, including the technique known as stream of consciousness, pioneered by 20th century European novelists such as James Joyce and Virginia Woolf.
The Scarlet Letter is an 1850 romantic work of fiction in a historical setting, written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is considered to be his magnum opus.
“Rappaccini’s Daughter” is a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne about a medical researcher in medieval Padua, who grows a garden of poisonous plants.
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is an 1876 novel about a young boy growing up along the Mississippi river. The story is set in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, inspired by Hannibal, Missouri, where Twain lived. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a novel by Mark Twain, is among the first in major American literature to be written throughout in vernacular English, characterized by local color regionalism. It is a direct sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Beloved by Nobel laureate Toni Morrison is set after the American Civil War (1861–1865), and is inspired by the story of an African-American slave, Margaret Garner. Alice Walker is a Pulitzer Prize-winning, African-American novelist and poet, most famous for authoring The Color Purple. “The Bear” is one of Faulkner's best-known short stories, and “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” is a short story by American author Ernest Hemingway.
The book has taken as subject of study the above-noted gems from the treasure trove of American fiction. The analysis has been done in a lucid manner with references to the text at appropriate places. The book will be useful for the students and teachers of English literature, particularly American literature, and researchers in these fields.
R.N. Sarkar is Ph.D. in English from Calcutta University, his thesis being approved and acclaimed by men like Robert Liddell and Sir Angus Wilson. Having worked as Reader and Head of the Deptt. of English, Katwa College, Burdwan University, he has a long standing experience in teaching English. He has shown deep interest in critical studies in different subjects of literature and already recorded an envied individualistic flavour of his judgement in works like India Related Naipaul (Sarup & Sons, New Delhi). Other works to his credit include: The Latest Revelation in the East (Sanskrit Pushtak Bhandar, Kolkata); A Trend in English Fiction (Firma KLM, Kolkata); Scenes in Nineteenth Century English Fiction (Associated Publishing, New Delhi); An Episodic Interpretation of Mahabharata; A Topical Survey of English Literature; and A Critical Study of Joseph Conard (Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, (P) Ltd., New Delhi).
