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American Literature
This entry contains two subentries: An Overview, Sea FictionAmerican sea literature has roots in Greek, Roman, Irish, and Norse mythology, the Bible, and the English Renaissance, whenever humans have ...
Bartleby the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street
Symbolic tale by Melville published anonymously in Putnam's Magazine (1853) and reprinted in The Piazza Tales (1856). One view is that it reflects Melville's futility at the neglect of his novels ...
Cape Cod
Descriptive work by Thoreau, posthumously published (1865) and edited by the younger W. E. Channing, after chapters had been printed in Putnam's Magazine (1855) and the Atlantic Monthly (1864). ...
civil Disobedience
The political tactic of disobeying a law deliberately, in order to bring about some change. The disobedience should ideally be public, non-violent, and committed by activists willing to face the ...
Civil Liberties and War
From the outset of the new American government under the Articles of Confederation, the need for striking a delicate balance between authority and liberty was essential. Fear of powerful central ...
conservation
The artificial control of ecological relationships in an environment in order to maintain a particular balance among the species present.
Dial
1 (1840–44), the literary organ of the American Transcendental movement (see Transcendental Club), of which M. Fuller was editor; she was succeeded by Emerson. It contained contributions by Thoreau.2 ...
Edward Carpenter
(1844–1929),became fellow of Trinity Hall, Cambridge and curate to F. D. Maurice. In 1874 he abandoned fellowship and orders and moved north, eventually settling at Millthorpe, near Chesterfield, ...
environmental ethics
A search for moral values and ethical principles in human relations with the natural world. See also ethics, land ethcs, stewardship.
environmental Movements
A political movement that focuses on protecting the environment, reducing environmental damage (such as pollution), and reducing unsustainable use of natural resources. See also environmentalism.
essay
A short written composition in prose that discusses a subject or proposes an argument without claiming to be a complete or thorough exposition. A minor literary form, the essay is more relaxed than ...
Excursions
Essays by Thoreau, posthumously collected in 1863, with a biographical preface by Emerson. The pieces had appeared in various magazines during Thoreau's lifetime, being expanded from journal notes on ...
Gay Literature
Gay writing was an important element of the Harlem Renaissance. Gay and bisexual men—such as Alain Locke, Countee Cullen, Wallace Thurman, Richard Bruce Nugent, Langston Hughes, and Claude McKay—were ...
H. L. Mencken
(1880–1956),American journalist and critic, who as literary editor from 1908, then as co‐editor, 1914–23 (with G. J. Nathan), of The Smart Set exercised a great influence on American taste, upholding ...
Henry James
(1843–1916),born in New York, the son of Henry James senior, writer on questions of theology and a follower of Swedenborg, and brother of William James. After a desultory education in New York, ...
John Burroughs
(1837–1921)American naturalist and essayist. Like Henry Thoreau, his characteristic medium was the nature essay and Walt Whitman encouraged him to get these into print. Apart from essay collections, ...
John Muir
USnaturalist, traveller, and writer (1838–1914) who was born in England and became America's most famous and most influential conservationist. He lived in the Yosemite Valley in California and ...
Life without Principle
Essay by Thoreau, posthumously published in the Atlantic Monthly (1863).Modern American culture is criticized as being excessively preoccupied with acquisition, at the expense of an awareness of ...
Louisa May Alcott
(1832–88)American author, born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of educationalist and Transcendentalist Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888). From an early age she published sketches, stories, etc., to help ...
Maine Woods
Autobiographical narrative by Thoreau, posthumously published (1864) as edited by the younger W. E. Channing. It contains three accounts of trips to Maine: “Ktaadn” (Union Magazine, 1848), describing ...
