How do today's Soviet critics see American literature? Which figures and events in it do they regard as of key importance? Which aspects of American literature arouse their warmest affection - and which do they reject? How do they rate the prospects for its developmen? These are some of the questions which this anthology attempts to answer. The writings it contains are the work of Soviet specialists in American literature, for whom the study of their subject is both an occupation and a calling. The contributions represent the thinking of different generations and differ in composition, style and technique, but all share a common feature: profound respect for the democratic tradition which has characterized United States literature since its very beginnings. This anthology was prepared by the literary history section of Progress Publishers to mark the 200th anniversary of America's statehood.
How do today's Soviet critics see American literature? Which figures and events in it do they regard as of key importance? Which aspects of American literature arouse their warmest affection - and which do they reject? How do they rate the prospects for its developmen? These are some of the questions which this anthology attempts to answer. The writings it contains are the work of Soviet specialists in American literature, for whom the study of their subject is both an occupation and a calling. The contributions represent the thinking of different generations and differ in composition, style and technique, but all share a common feature: profound respect for the democratic tradition which has characterized United States literature since its very beginnings. This anthology was prepared by the literary history section of Progress Publishers to mark the 200th anniversary of America's statehood.