Orient BlackSwan Critical Texts aims to introduce the classics of American literature to students, in a manner which renders the text contemporary and relevant. The texts in the series have been chosen keeping in mind their value as a statement of the age in which they were written in, as well as for their enduring value and fascination and impact for succeeding generations. They have all left an indelible mark in the American psyche, and have, at various points in time, defined what it was to be ‘American’.

Each of the titles in the series features a detailed introduction to the text penned by the foremost scholars in American literature today, along with detailed explanatory notes and annotations, designed to make the text accessible to students. It also features two carefully selected scholarly essays which provide readers with a range of critical perspectives in contextualizing and analyzing the text.