A Companion to American Literary Studies

A Companion to American Literary Studies addresses the most provocative questions, subjects, and issues animating the disciplinary field of “American literature.” It provides state-of-the-art essays on a full range of topics central to the field, examining the strengths and limitations of current scholarly and pedagogical practices and pointing to future developments and possibilities. The essays explore critical and institutional genealogies of the field, increasingly diverse conceptions of American literary study, and the unprecedented material changes to the field occasioned by emerging digital, new media, and visual technologies. Collectively, the essays provide readers with the knowledge and conceptual tools for understanding American literary studies as it is practiced today, and chart new directions for the future of the field. With its emphasis on histories, practices, and futures, this is an essential resource for anyone interested in American literary studies.