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Common Sense
In 1776, Thomas Paine published the pamphlet Common Sense, in which he argued the true role of government, the liberties of the common man, and the necessity of revolution against England. Common Sense had the largest scale and circulation than any other book in American history and its ideals quickly spread to the American people. These ideals were later echoed in the Declaration of Independence and have become the basis of traditional American values. -
The Sketch Book of Geoffery Crayon, Gent.
The Sketch Book of Geoffery Crayon was written by Washington Irving, one of the first Americans to earn a living solely off of his written works. Throughout a serries of publications between June 23, 1819 and September 13, 182, Irving created memorable charachters such as Ichabod Crane and Rip Van Winkle. His most renowned stories were "The Legend of Sleepy Hallow" and "Rip Van Winkle" and became a great influence on future American authors such as Herman Melville and Edgar Allan Poe. -
The Last of the Mohicans
Written by James Fenimore Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans forever impacted the American view and characterization of Native Americans and the western frontier. Cooper, along with Irving, was one of the first American novelists to live solely off of his written works. -
The Scarlet Letter
Published in 1850, The Scarlet Letter challenged traditional Puritan, thus traditional American, values and morals. Nathaniel Hawthorne became one of the major leaders of dark romanticism, along with Edgar Allan Poe and Herman Melville, and The Scarlett Letter is considered his most imporant work. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin was published in 1852 and is thought to have defined the racial tensions that lead to the Civil War. Its publication sparked a great backlash of pro-slavery literature as well as hailed praise by abolitionists everywhere. Uncle Tom's Cabin also influenced protests novels of later generations such as The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. -
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
In 1885, Huckleberry Finn was first published in America. Through his novels, Mart Twain became the first prevalent American author not born in New England. Huckleberry Finn is noted for its colloquial reallism and Erest Hemmingway himself argued this was the true beginning of American literature. -
The Red Badge of Courage
The Red Badge of Courage was published in 1895 and is about the American Civil War. Stephen Crane is greatly noted for his realistic portrayal of war and influenced the new, developing realist movement. -
Turn of the Screw
The Turn of the Screw was the most notable work of Henry James Jr. and is considered to be one of the founders of American realism, The Turn of the Screw was published in installments between January and April of 1898 and furthered the redefinition of American literature. -
The Awakening
Through The Awakening, Kate Chopin developed a new style of prose fiction that pushed further into realism and further developed use of the metaphor. Kate Chopin also asserted the need for Women's Rights and The Awakening has become a classic of femminist fiction. -
The Call of the Wild
Written by Jack London, The Call of the Wild was published between June 20, 1903 and July 18, 1903. It brought a fresh perspective on the American frontier and wildlife itself. The Call of the Wild also delved into timless human themes such as fate versus free will and survival of the fittest. -
The Jungle
Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle after inspecting meat industries in 1905. Through the horros depicted, The Jungle revolutionized health standards in the United States and made U.S. meat once again safe for cosumption. -
Three Lives
Written by Gertrude Stein, Three Lives explored the depths of the American language and marked the begining of 20s realism. Gertrude Stein went on later to influence other American greats such as Ernest Hemingway and Fitzgerald. -
The Age of Innocence
The Age of Innocence was published in 1920 and was written by Edith Wharton. Wharton critiqued upper class society and revealed the new 20s attitude of dissent and freedom. -
The Great Gatsby
Through The Great Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald critiqued the new prosperity of the 1920s and is regarded as one of the three Great American Novels. Fitzgerald propelled the 20s realism and explored the English language like many of his contemporaries. -
The Sun Also Rises
The Sun Also Rises is considered a leap forward in American realism and through it Ernest Hemingway developed an economical and blunt style of writing that revealed the truth of a situation with little words. -
Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind was a CivilWar-era novel written by Margarate Mitchell. Through this lovestory, Mitchell further definied the racial tensions of the 1800s and the issues leading up to the Civil War. -
The Grapes of Wrath
Written by John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath is an American realist novel that told the story of the farmers in the Great Depression. Through his realistic protrayal, Steinbeck popularized a new perspective on the Great Depression that differed from the prevalent capitalistic viewpoints. -
The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye is one of the most influential novels of the 20th century. Written by J.D. Salinger, it is considered one the "three perfect books" in American Literature and captures the true nature of American Cities. -
The Crucible
Published in 1952, The Crucible is a play about the Salem Witchcraft Trials that delves into truths about the human character. Through the characters, Arthur Miller parallels McCarthyism and The Red Scare to a witch hunt and revealed the absurdity of new American views. -
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee wrote the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, in which she redefined the racial tensions of the 30s that echoed new movements in the 60s. Atticus Finch became a moral hero for America, as well as a guideline for future American portangonists.
