Description
Book SynopsisThroughout history, creative writers have often tackled topical subjects as a means to engage and influence public discourse. American authorsthose born in the States and those who became naturalized citizenshave consistently found ways to be critical of the more painful pieces of the country's past yet have done so with the patriotic purpose of strengthening the nation's community and future.In History and Hope in American Literature: Models of Critical Patriotism, Ben Railton argues that it is only through an in-depth engagement with historyespecially its darkest and most agonizing elementsthat one can come to a genuine form of patriotism that employs constructive criticism as a tool for civic engagement. The author argues that it is through such critical patriotism that one can imagine and move toward a hopeful, shared future for all Americans. Railton highlights twelve works of American literature that focus on troubling periods in American history, including John Steinbeck's The G
Trade ReviewAt what seems a dark political moment for many citizens in the US, Railton a realistic and optimistic examination of American politics, social issues, and culture through selected literary lenses. Some readers may be distracted by the term ‘critical patriotism’ in the subtitle, although the author carefully defines it; the title itself serves the book more precisely. Railton offers wide-ranging contexts and references as he examines the difficult histories of American life: African American and Native American experiences, the Depression, Caribbean American histories, the AIDS epidemic, the refugee dilemma. Focusing on 13 literary works, ranging from Charles Chesnutt's The Marrow of Tradition (1901) to Dave Eggers's What Is the What (2006), Railton makes a compelling argument that despite the dark events and patterns of life in the US—including the current divisiveness—these works become means toward a more enlightened country. The prose is free of jargon, written with an eye to the interests of scholars and serious readers. A substantial list of further reading closes this reflection on American life and values. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers. * CHOICE *
