The English Literatures of America: 1500-1800

Myra Jehlen

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The English Literatures of America: 1500-1800, edited by Myra Jehlen and Michael Warner, is a comprehensive anthology that challenges the traditional notion of American literature by emphasizing its transatlantic and multilingual roots. Rather than viewing early American literature as a purely nationalistic endeavor, the book highlights how English literary culture in America was deeply intertwined with European, African, and Indigenous influences. The anthology includes a diverse range of texts, such as sermons, diaries, travel narratives, autobiographies, and poetry, reflecting the complex cultural exchanges that shaped early American literary traditions. By incorporating voices beyond the dominant Puritan and colonial narratives, the book broadens the understanding of what constitutes "American" literature during this period. It also underscores the role of literature in shaping ideological, religious, and political debates within the emerging societies of the New World.

Furthermore, The English Literatures of America challenges the linear progression of American literary history by showcasing how multiple traditions coexisted and influenced one another. The book presents writings from various authors, including colonists, explorers, Indigenous leaders, and African writers, demonstrating the diversity of literary expression in colonial America. It also examines the rhetorical strategies employed by different groups to assert identity, power, and resistance within the broader framework of imperialism and colonialism. By reframing early American literature as a dynamic, transnational field rather than a fixed national canon, Jehlen and Warner offer a nuanced perspective that encourages readers to rethink the origins of American literary traditions. This work is an essential resource for scholars and students seeking a more inclusive and historically grounded understanding of literature in colonial America.