Must Read: Rediscovering American Bestsellers: From Charlotte Temple to The Da Vinci Code

by Sarah Churchwell (Editor), Thomas Ruys Smith (Editor)

What is it about certain books that makes them bestsellers? Why do some of these books remain popular for centuries, and others fade gently into obscurity? And why is it that when scholars do turn their attention to bestsellers, they seem only to be interested in the same handful of blockbusters, when so many books that were once immensely popular remain under-examined? Addressing those and other equally pressing questions about popular literature, Must Read is the first scholarly collection to offer both a survey of the evolution of American bestsellers as well as critical readings of some of the key texts that have shaped the American imagination since the nation's founding.Focusing on a mix of enduring and forgotten bestsellers, the essays in this collection consider 18th and 19th century works, like Charlotte Temple or Ben-Hur , that were once considered epochal but are now virtually ignored; 20th century favorites such as The Sheik and Peyton Place ; and 21st century blockbusters including the novels of Nicholas Sparks, The Kite Runner , and The Da Vinci Code .

Genres: Books About Books

384 pages, Paperback

First published August 2, 2012

Reviews

[Kamakana · Rating 4 out of 5]

130316: ... yes i did read it more or less in one looong day at the coffeehouse, but as a series of essays some are good some are less, and i do not know if i just did not want to read it tomorrow or that it was compelling. somehow it seems necessary this is edited from outside the us, to give perspective.

many works i have not read eg Nic Sparks, Da Vinci Code, many i have not heard of eg Charlotte Temple, some read eg Tarzan, Godfather, Kite Runner. does make them interesting, so take them as recs. academic take on books according to social, political, psychological, basis. am i going to get something out of bestseller fiction? i have read a lot of pulp crime...

[Jason Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the most part a solid collection of essays considering the idea of the "bestseller" and its place in culture. Each one reflects/responds to the cultural times in which it was written, in both prosaic and significant ways. Essays on Peyton Place and Tarzan the highlights for me.

[Christine Mathieu · Rating 3 out of 5]

It only contained two books (The DaVinci Code, Peyton Place) that I found interesting. The others were bestsellers, but from their topic never piqued my interest.

Does anybody know if there are more books like this one out there?

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

This non fiction title was not what I expected. The essays about the novels, The Godfather, The Kite Runner and all books by Nicholas Sparks were interesting. It was fascinating to learn the "story" behind the story of these bestsellers.