A Writer's America: Landscape in Literature

by Alfred Kazin

The distinguished literary critic and historian identifies and examines the influences of American landscapes, pastoral and urban, on American writers ranging from Jefferson to Bellow

Genres: Nature

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 12, 1988

About the author

Alfred Kazin (June 5, 1915 – June 5, 1998) was an American writer and literary critic, many of whose writings depicted the immigrant experience in early twentieth century America.

Kazin is regarded as one of "The New York Intellectuals", and like many other members of this group he was born in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn and attended the City College of New York. However, his politics were more moderate than most of the New York intellectuals, many of whom were socialists. He wrote out of a great passion-- or great disgust -- for what he was reading and embedded his opinions in a deep knowledge of history, both literary history and politics and culture. He was a friend of the political theorist Hannah Arendt. In 1996 he was awarded the first Truman Capote Lifetime Achievement Award for literary criticism.

His son is historian and Dissent co-editor Michael Kazin.

(from wikipedia.org)

Reviews

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the sense of place running through American literature. I particularly enjoyed the 'Power Centres' chapter discussing the landscape of the city and its effect on American literature.

[Monica Madaus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kazin seldom tells you anything really astounding about the stories he's considering, but I learned a lot about the authors from his books. I never realized Henry James was such a snob, though I suppose I should have.

He was one of the first to consider the possibility that place counted, too, even back when only a few places officially counted. Even if he does tend to take that tedious nature vs...crap as a given. Maybe he even originated it.