English Summary:

The Norton Anthology of American Literature (Ninth Edition, Vol. Package 1: Volumes A and B) offers a sweeping overview of American literary history from its beginnings to the end of the 19th century. Volume A covers early American literature, including Native American oral traditions, colonial and Puritan writings, and the emergence of national identity through works by authors such as Anne Bradstreet, Jonathan Edwards, and Benjamin Franklin. Volume B moves into the 19th century, showcasing the Romantic and Transcendentalist movements with key figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Emily Dickinson, as well as writings shaped by slavery, abolition, and the Civil War.

Together, these volumes illustrate the evolution of American thought and expression, reflecting the complex social, political, and cultural transformations of the time. Through a diverse range of voices—male and female, Black and white, settler and Indigenous—the anthology presents a rich tapestry of American experience. The selected texts not only highlight the literary artistry of the period but also serve as windows into the conflicts and aspirations that helped shape the American identity¹.