Hawthorne Melville and the American Character

Explore the intricate portrayal of the American national character through the lens of two literary giants in Hawthorne Melville and the American Character by John McWilliams. Published by Cambridge University Press in 1986, this insightful paperback spans 276 pages and delves into the profound writings of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville. McWilliams examines Hawthorne's deep concern with New England's evolution from a colony to a republic, while also analyzing Melville's shifting perspectives on 'the new American' and the challenges he encountered in maintaining his fervent nationalistic beliefs. This book is a must-read for those interested in American literature and the complexities of its cultural identity.