William Wells Brown’s Clotel (1853), the first novel written by an African American, was published in London while Brown was still legally regarded as "property" within the borders of the United States. The novel was inspired by the story of Thomas Jefferson’s purported sexual relationship with his slave Sally Hemings. Brown fictionalizes the stories of Jefferson’s mistress, daughters, and granddaughters — all of whom are slaves — in order to demythologize the dominant U.S. cultural narrative celebrating Jefferson’s America as a nation of freedom and equality for all. The documents in this edition include excerpts from Brown’s sources for the novel — fiction, political essays, sermons, and presidential proclamations; selections that illuminate the range of contemporary attitudes concerning race, slavery, and prejudice; and pieces that advocate various methods of resistance and reform.
Robert S. Levine Livres
Robert S. Levine est un professeur d'anglais distingué dont les recherches explorent en profondeur la littérature américaine. Il est reconnu pour son analyse perspicace des œuvres littéraires et de leur signification culturelle. Son rôle éditorial souligne davantage son engagement à diffuser et interpréter la tradition littéraire américaine.
The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Vol. A - Ninth Edition
- 1064pages
- 38 heures de lecture
Read by more than 2.5 million students over 30 years, The Norton Anthology of American Literature sets the standard and remains an unmatched value.