American Literary Geographies

This collection of essays examines the relationship between geography and American literature, offering new insights into cultural narratives and spatial dynamics in American Literary Geographies.

This interdisciplinary collection of essays delves into the intricate connections between geography and American literary history, tracing themes from the earliest geographic chronicles of the New World to the expansive geopolitical visions of the 1890s. The essays collectively highlight the fluidity of geographical boundaries and the interplay of physical and imaginary migrations that accompanied the rise of literary nationalism. By examining these intersections, American Literary Geographies offers fresh textual, theoretical, and contextual perspectives that challenge existing exceptionalist narratives surrounding U.S. culture.

Commencing with analyses of the establishment of names, borders, and jurisdictions, the collection progresses towards materialist interpretations of literary settings. These interpretations are enriched by various sources, including maps, surveying tracts, travelogues, and sailors' epitaphs, all of which illuminate the complexities of racialized or gendered mobility. Through this lens, American Literary Geographies not only addresses significant social and political developments such as imperialism, regionalism, and tourism but also aims to enhance literary histories by prioritizing spatial considerations over temporal ones.

By foregrounding geographical and literary discourse, this volume opens new avenues for understanding American literature. It invites readers to reconsider how spatial dynamics influence narrative structures and the representation of identity within the American literary canon. Ultimately, American Literary Geographies serves as a vital resource for those interested in the rich tapestry of American literary and geographical intersections.