03303nam 2200625 a 450 991045222220332120200520144314.01-281-72277-497866117227770-300-13378-210.12987/9780300133783(CKB)1000000000472084(StDuBDS)BDZ0022171494(SSID)ssj0000101971(PQKBManifestationID)11124972(PQKBTitleCode)TC0000101971(PQKBWorkID)10043732(PQKB)10067589(StDuBDS)EDZ0000165562(MiAaPQ)EBC3419828(DE-B1597)485436(OCoLC)1024004654(DE-B1597)9780300133783(Au-PeEL)EBL3419828(CaPaEBR)ebr10167876(OCoLC)923587250(EXLCZ)99100000000047208420041004d2005 uy 0engur|||||||||||txtccrThe American classics[electronic resource] a personal essay /Denis DonoghueNew Haven Yale University Pressc20051 online resource (1 online resource (viii, 295 p.)) Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph0-300-10781-1 Includes bibliographical references (p. 263-280) and index.Introduction : after Emerson -- Emerson and "The American Scholar" -- Moby-Dick -- The Scarlet letter -- Walden -- Leaves of grass -- Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.How is a classic book to be defined? How much time must elapse before a work may be judged a "classic"? And among all the works of American literature, which deserve the designation? In this provocative new book Denis Donoghue essays to answer these questions. He presents his own short list of "relative" classics--works whose appeal may not be universal but which nonetheless have occupied an important place in our culture for more than a century. These books have survived the abuses of time-neglect, contempt, indifference, willful readings, excesses of praise, and hyperbole.Donoghue bestows the term classic on just five American works: Melville's Moby-Dick, Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, Thoreau's Walden, Whitman's Leaves of Grass, and Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.Examining each in a separate chapter, he discusses how the writings have been received and interpreted, and he offers his own contemporary readings, suggesting, for example, that in the post-9/11 era, Moby-Dick may be rewardingly read as a revenge tragedy. Donoghue extends an irresistible invitation to open the pages of these American classics again, demonstrating with wit and acuity how very much they have to say to us now.American literature19th centuryHistory and criticismTheory, etcCanon (Literature)Electronic books.American literatureHistory and criticismTheory, etc.Canon (Literature)810.9/003Donoghue Denis193571MiAaPQMiAaPQMiAaPQBOOK9910452222203321The American classics2488874UNINA