The American Ideal argues that the institution of American literary scholarship enshrines a reactionary view of history, of narrative, and a reactionary and dangerous view of America itself. It examines the way the idea of `America' has been wrapped up with American literary history and unwraps the implications of that relationship for contemporary debates about the methods and status of literary history in general.
This monograph argues that the institution of American literary scholarship enshrines a reactionary view of history and narrative and an unrealistic view of America itself. The author also examines contemporary debates about the methods and status of literary history in general.
