American history through literature, 1820-1870

This set is meant to address several kinds of readers at once: high school or college students, library patrons, the teacher of American literature, American history, or American studies, a researcher, and the "common" reader. For all of these kinds of readers the essays in these volumes may serve either as a cogent brief analysis of the topic or as a starting point for further research. Although the essays are authoritative and accurate, they are not neutral synopses. Each expresses the point of view and, indeed, the argument of the contributor. In the aggregate, they reflect theoretical perspectives of contemporary literary criticism and historiology. (from preface).