Secular revelations : the Constitution of the United States and classic American literature / Mitchell Meltzer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Meltzer, Mitchell.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

American literature--19th century--History and criticism.

American literature.

Nationalism and literature--United States--History--19th century.

Nationalism and literature.

Literature and state--United States--History--19th century.

Literature and state.

National characteristics, American, in literature.

Constitutional history--United States.

Constitutional history.

Secularism in literature.

Revelation in literature.

United States. Constitution.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 192 p. ) ill.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press, 2005.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The United States Constitution is a quintessentially political document. Yet, until now, no one has seriously considered the formative influence of this document on American cultural life. In this ambitious book, Mitchell Meltzer demonstrates the extent to which the Constitution is both source and inspiration for America's greatest literary masterworks.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction: The Constitution and American Literature

I: The Constitution as a Secular Revelation

1. At the Beginning

2. The Path to Union

3. The People, Having Spoken, Speak

4. Almost a Miracle

5. The Paradox of Secular Revelation

II: An American Literary Renaissance

6. Declarations of American Literary Independence

7. Preserving the Revelation

8. Preserving the Paradox

9. The Literary Renaissance of Secular Revelation

10. Essays in Time

11. A Poetic Form for Straying

12. Clinging to Narrative

13. Confidence and the Darkness of Revelation

Conclusion: The Literary Art of Uniting States

Notes

Index

Notes:

Formerly CIP.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [165]-188) and index.

ISBN:

9780674040946

0674040945

OCLC:

1049691823