History and hope in American literature : models of critical patriotism / Ben Railton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Railton, Ben, 1977- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

American literature--History and criticism.

American literature.

Literature and history--United States.

Literature and history.

United States.

History in literature.

Hope in literature.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

xxiii, 149 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Maryland : Rowman & Littlefield, [2017]

Summary:

Throughout history, creative writers have often tackled topical subjects as a means to engage and influence public discourse. American authors--those born in the States and those who became naturalized citizens--have consistently found ways to be critical of the more painful pieces of the country's past yet have done so with the patriotic purpose of strengthening the nation's community and future. In History and Hope in American Literature: Models of Critical Patriotism, Ben Railton argues that it is only through an in-depth engagement with history--especially its darkest and most agonizing elements--that one can come to a genuine form of patriotism that employs constructive criticism as a tool for civic engagement. The author argues that it is through such critical patriotism that one can imagine and move toward a hopeful, shared future for all Americans. Railton highlights twelve works of American literature that focus on troubling periods in American history, including John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, David Bradley's The Chaneysville Incident, Louise Erdrich's Love Medicine, Tony Kushner's Angels in America, Junot D az's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, and Dave Eggers's What Is the What. From African and Native American histories to the Depression and the AIDS epidemic, Caribbean and Rwandan refugees and immigrants to global climate change, these works help readers confront, understand, and transcend the most sorrowful histories and issues. In so doing, the authors of these books offer hard-won hope that can help point people in the direction of a more perfect union. History and Hope in American Literature will be of interest to students and practitioners of American literature and history.

Contents:

Introduction: Crucial Contingencies and Critical Patriotism

African American Histories and Hopes: Charles Chesnutt's The Marrow of Tradition and David Bradley's The Chaneysville Incident

Native American Histories and Hopes: Leslie Marmon Silko's Ceremony and Louise Erdrich's Love Medicine

Great Depression Histories and Hopes: John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath and Carlos Bulosan's America Is in the Heart

Caribbean American Histories and Hopes: Junot Díaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and Edwidge Danticat's The Dew Breaker

AIDS Epidemic Histories and Hopes: Tony Kushner's Angels in America and Alice Hoffman's At Risk

Refugee Histories and Hopes: Mark Bixler's The Lost Boys of Sudan and Dave Eggers's What Is the What

Conclusion: Finding the Road to Hope: Cormac McCarthy's The Road.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Railton, Ben, 1977- author. History and hope in American literature

ISBN:

9781442276369

1442276363

OCLC:

965543725