A Companion to the American Novel

A Companion to the American Novel provides a comprehensive treatment of the development of the novel in the United States from its emergence in the eighteenth century to the present. Through a series of 38 essays written by a distinguished cast of literary scholars, the Companion provides a broad historical overview of the nature and development of the novel; perceptive studies of the crucial genres, topics, and traditions that define the literary form; and insightful analyses of 16 of the most important works of American fiction, including The Scarlet Letter, Moby-Dick, The Great Gatsby, Beloved, and many more. The variety of approaches presented here reflects the rich diversity of the form as it has evolved in the United States over the past two centuries. With its in-depth coverage and wealth of insights, A Companion to the American Novel is the most valuable single-volume examination of this major literary form available today.