A History of American Working-Class Literature

This book is the first and only systematic, broad study of the history and character of American working-class literature.

This History sheds light not only on the lived experience of class but also on the enormously varied creativity of working-class people throughout the history of what is now the United States. With subjects ranging from transportation narratives to the literature of globalization, it is an excellent resource for students and scholars.A History of American Working-Class Literature sheds light not only on the lived experience of class but the enormously varied creativity of working-class people throughout the history of what is now the United States. By charting a chronology of working-class experience, as the conditions of work have changed over time, this volume shows how the practice of organizing, economic competition, place, and time shape opportunity and desire. The subjects range from transportation narratives and slave songs to the literature of deindustrialization and globalization. Among the literary forms discussed are memoir, journalism, film, drama, poetry, speeches, fiction, and song. Essays focus on plantation, prison, factory, and farm, as well as on labor unions, workers' theaters, and innovative publishing ventures. Chapters spotlight the intersections of class with race, gender, and place. The variety, depth, and many provocations of this History are certain to enrich the study and teaching of American literature.