A Chronological Outline of American Literature

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

This is the first book to examine the literary history of the United States in terms of the chronological occurrence of significant events and activities. This comprehensive volume lists the dates of birth and death of literary figures, important historical facts, and the authors and titles of works published for each year, from Colonial times to the present. The compiler's introduction offers an interesting and informative discussion of how, from little more than a list of author's titles, and events, we may observe a year in the history of a nation, through the political, scientific, and social developments that fired the imaginations of America's writers, and fed the appetites of a growing reading public.

Reviews

A useful year-by-year listing of popular and scholarly American literary happenings from 1507 until 1986. It includes writers' births and deaths, events such as foundings of periodicals and libraries, and publication of significant, ' representative' works. These, listed alphabetically by author, include writings in 24 genres--from autobiography and bibliography to translation and travel--chosen and classified by Rogal.... His purpose is to help readers comprehend the significance' of these activities as they have affected and contributed to U.S. literary history.' Most extensive and provocative are the literature lists ... this convenient reference tool will supplement basic sources.... Suitable for all libraries American literature collections.-Choice
The publication of this reference book will be of inestimable value, not only to scholars and critics writing on the impact of social, political, medical, artistic, religious, and historical events and activities on the literary history and development of the United States, but to general education faculty planning readings for core curriculum courses. Beginning with 1507 and continuing through 1986, Samuel J. Rogal lists births and deaths of literary figures; major literary events and activities; and authors and titles of fiction, poetry, drama, essays, and other writings of major and many minor American writers from many different disciplines. This work also contains a brief introductory essay, key to abbreviations used throughout the text, a list of reference sources in American literature used by the author in compilation of this book, and an index of authors and events.-ARBA
"A useful year-by-year listing of popular and scholarly American literary happenings from 1507 until 1986. It includes writers' births and deaths, events such as foundings of periodicals and libraries, and publication of significant, ' representative' works. These, listed alphabetically by author, include writings in 24 genres--from autobiography and bibliography to translation and travel--chosen and classified by Rogal.... His purpose is to help readers comprehend the significance' of these activities as they have affected and contributed to U.S. literary history.' Most extensive and provocative are the literature lists ... this convenient reference tool will supplement basic sources.... Suitable for all libraries American literature collections."-Choice
"The publication of this reference book will be of inestimable value, not only to scholars and critics writing on the impact of social, political, medical, artistic, religious, and historical events and activities on the literary history and development of the United States, but to general education faculty planning readings for core curriculum courses. Beginning with 1507 and continuing through 1986, Samuel J. Rogal lists births and deaths of literary figures; major literary events and activities; and authors and titles of fiction, poetry, drama, essays, and other writings of major and many minor American writers from many different disciplines. This work also contains a brief introductory essay, key to abbreviations used throughout the text, a list of reference sources in American literature used by the author in compilation of this book, and an index of authors and events."-ARBA

Author Bio

SAMUEL J. ROGAL is Chairman of the Division of the Humanities and Fine Arts at Illinois Valley Community College, Oglesby, Illinois.