American Renaissance
Art and Expression in the Age of Emerson and Whitman
Author: F.O. Matthiessen Series: Galaxy Books
This text has taken its place as the definitive treatment of the most distinguished age of American literature. Centering the discussion around five literary giants of the mid-nineteenth century-Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Melville, and Whitman. Matthiessen elucidates their conceptions of the nature and function of literature, and the extent to which these were realized in their writings.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Summary
This text has taken its place as the definitive treatment of the most distinguished age of American literature. Centering the discussion around five literary giants of the mid-nineteenth century-Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Melville, and Whitman. Matthiessen elucidates their conceptions of the nature and function of literature, and the extent to which these were realized in their writings.
Description
Studies the views of 5 prominent mid-19th century writers on the function and nature of literature and how they applied these views to their works.
Critic Reviews
“"This classic remains very helpful; I'm glad it's published in paperback,so I can recommend it to students who couldn't possibly purchase a hard-coveredition."--Robert Lee Stuart, University of Redlands”
"[Matthiessen's] exploration of the haunted mind of Hawthorne, of Emerson's integrity, of the mental hell in which Melville lived, of Whitman's schizophrenia, of Thoreau's chosen solitude, [has] produced a book unequaled in American critical writing."--The New Republic"Perhaps the most profound work of literary criticism on historical principles by any modern American."--Saturday Review"[Matthiessen's] exploration of the haunted mind of Hawthorne, of Emerson's integrity, of the mental hell in which Melville lived, of Whitman's schizophrenia, of Thoreau's chosen solitude, [has] produced a book unequaled in American critical writing."--The New Republic"Matthiessen has brought to light a rich and complex period....His comments on language and style, in addition to being discerning as criticism, become finally profound reflections on nineteenth-century American society."--Daniel Aaron, Kenyon Review"This classic remains very helpful; I'm glad it's published in paperback, so I can recommend it to students who couldn't possibly purchase a hard-cover edition."--Robert Lee Stuart, University of Redlands"The definitive text regarding the epistemological crisis of the mid-nineteenth century."--Arnold Goudenstein, Fitchburg (MA) State Ccollege
About the Author
About the Author:
F. O. Matthiessen was a Californian by birth but grew up in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York. Educated both here and abroad, he started teaching in 1927, first at Yale and then at Harvard, where he was Professor of History and Literature. He made the field of American poetry one of his major
interests and wrote critical estimates of Emerson, Poe, Eliot, and other contemporary poets. He was a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters and a Senior Fellow of the Kenyon School of English.
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