Title: The crossroads of American history and literature
First published: 1996
Description: The Crossroads of American History and Literature collects two decades' worth of the best-known essays of Philip F. Gura. Beginning with a definitive overview of studies of colonial literature, Gura ranges through such subjects in colonial American history as the intellectual life of the Connecticut River Valley, Cotton Mather's understanding of political leadership, and the religious upheavals of the Great Awakening.

In the nineteenth century, he visits such varied topics as the history of print culture in rural communities, the philological interests of the Transcendentalist Elizabeth Peabody, the craft and business of the early American music trades, and Thoreau's interest in exploration literature and in the Native American.

Displaying remarkable sophistication in a variety of fields that, taken together, constitute the heart of American Studies, this collection illustrates the complexity of American cultural history.
Subjects: Historiography, History and criticism, American literature, Literature and history, National characteristics, American, in literature, Intellectual life, Civilization, Historicism, History, American literature, history and criticism, 19th century, American literature, history and criticism, colonial period, ca. 1600-1775, United states, intellectual life, United states, historiography, United states, civilization, Littérature américaine, Histoire et critique, Littérature et histoire, Histoire, Historicisme, Américains dans la littérature, Vie intellectuelle, Historiographie, Civilisation, Colonial period, Geschichtsschreibung, Literatur, Geschichte, Kultur, Nationalcharakter, Cultuurgeschiedenis, Letterkunde, Amerikaans, National characteristics, american
Places: United States
Time periods: Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775, 19th century
LC classification: PS217.H57 G87 1996