Twenty-five Books That Shaped America: How White Whales, Green Lights, And Restless Spirits Forged Our National Identity

(Paperback)

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Description

From the author of theNew York TimesbestsellingHow to Read Literature Like a Professorcomes a highly entertaining and informative book on the twenty-five works of literature that have most shaped the American character.

Thomas C. Foster applies his much-loved combination of wit, know-how, and analysis to explain how each work has shaped our very existence as readers, students, teachers, and Americans. Heilluminates how books such asThe Last of the Mohicans,Moby-Dick,My ntonia,The Great Gatsby,The Maltese Falcon,Their Eyes Were Watching God,On the Road,The Crying of Lot 49, and others captured an American moment, how they influenced our perception of nationhood and citizenship, and what about them endures in the American character.Twenty-five Books That Shaped Americais a fun and enriching guide to America through its literature.

Reviews

"Funny, challenging, clear, and always insightful, this intriguing book will make you think again about what it means to be an American." -- Janice A. Radway, author of A Feeling for Books

"Many readers will wish they had a high-school English teacher as cheery and engaged as Foster." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Foster is a witty, quirkily provocative, and perceptive literary critic." -- Publishers Weekly

Author Bio

Thomas C. Foster, author of How to Read Literature Like a Professor and Reading the Silver Screen, is professor emeritus of English at the University of Michigan, Flint, where he taught classes in contemporary fiction, drama, and poetry, as well as creative writing and freelance writing. The author of several books on 20th-century British and Irish literature and poetry.