Historical Guide to American Literature

Compared to other countries and cultures, American literature is still fairly young. However, since the first colonists settled in America, writers have worked hard to make up for lost time. Today, American literature has taken on its own unique style and feel. To get there, it has gone through numerous periods of literary exploration and transformation, starting with colonial literature and moving through periods of revolution, romance, realism and the radical modern and post-modern movements. Through all of the literary periods, American authors have set themselves as a force to be reckoned with, becoming some of the most notable and lasting authors of all time.

American Literary Periods

Literature from each of America’s literary periods has its own distinct features. The earliest fiction from Native Americans and colonists focused on exploration and moral tales. Revolutionary fiction was known for its philosophical and political topics. Both the romantic and realist periods brought voice to American literature and the modern and post-modernist periods further developed that voice.

Famous American Authors

Thousands of authors have striven to be among the greats in American literature, but few have risen to the top. Today, America’s most famous authors span multiple literary periods and genres. They also come from different cultures and backgrounds, each bringing their unique experience in the country to their literary works.

The Great American Novel

The main goal of most authors in America is to write the next great American novel, which has become one of the hallmarks of American literature. Few books have attained the elusive status and among literary critics there is much debate about whether those books actually deserve the recognition they have received.