One of the most well - known is 'The Scarlet Letter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne. It tells the story of Hester Prynne, who is forced to wear a scarlet 'A' as a mark of her adultery in Puritan society.
Classic 19th - century American novels are important because they often deal with universal themes. 'The House of the Seven Gables' by Hawthorne, for instance, explores themes of guilt, family secrets, and the passage of time. These themes are still relevant today and can be related to by modern readers, which makes these novels timeless.
One of the great 20th century American classic novels is 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville. This epic tale of Captain Ahab's obsessive hunt for the white whale is rich in symbolism. 'The Grapes of Wrath' by John Steinbeck is another important work. It tells the story of the Joad family during the Great Depression, highlighting the hardships of migrant workers. And don't forget 'Invisible Man' by Ralph Ellison, which delves into issues of race and identity.
20th century American classic novels had a huge influence. For example, 'The Great Gatsby' set a new standard for exploring the hollowness of the American Dream. Its vivid descriptions and complex characters influenced many later writers. 'To Kill a Mockingbird' made a significant impact on how Americans view racial issues in literature. It became a model for moral storytelling.
These serial novels were sometimes a reflection of the changing society. As America was evolving in the 19th century, with industrialization and westward expansion, novels like those in the list often incorporated these elements. They might show the contrast between rural and urban life, or the impact of new ideas on traditional communities. For example, some novels explored how new religious or philosophical ideas were affecting people's lives in different regions of the country.
American literature in the 19th and 20th centuries covered many different schools and some famous works are listed below:
19th century:
- The Adventures of Tom sawyer by Mark Twain
- Owen's The Jeff Bezos Story
- Oliver Twist by Dickens
- Jane Austen's Pride and Predict
- The creator of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling
20th century:
- The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemmingway
- Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury
- Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude
- Nabokov's Lolita
- Maugham's The Moon and Sixpence
- Lao She's Teahouse
In addition to the works listed above, there are many other famous American literary works such as Ernest Hemmingway's The Sun Also Rises, Wilson's War and Peace, Calvino's One Hundred Years of Solitude, etc.
Sure. 'The Scarlet Letter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a great one. It tells the story of Hester Prynne who has to wear a scarlet 'A' for adultery in a Puritan community.
The 19th century was the peak period of the development of American novels. Many famous novelists created a large number of works during this period. Some of the famous novelists included:
- William F Scott: Faulkner was one of the most famous novelists of the 19th century. His works include The Sound and the Fury and The Solitude of Virgil.
- Mark Twain: Twain was another famous novelist in the 19th century. His works include The Adventures of Tom sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, etc.
- Emily Browning: Bronte was another famous novelist in the 19th century. Her works included Jane Eyre, Pride and Predict, and so on.
- Henry James: James was another famous novelist in the 19th century. His works include Dream of the Red Chamber, Sense and Sensibility, and so on.
The works of these novelists were widely welcomed at that time and made important contributions to the development of American novels.
One characteristic is the exploration of the American frontier. Novels like 'The Leatherstocking Tales' by James Fenimore Cooper showed the wilderness and the struggles of settlers. Another is the examination of social issues such as slavery. Harriet Beecher Stowe's 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' was very influential in this regard. Also, many 19th - century American novels had a strong sense of moral purpose.
One characteristic is the influence of Puritan values. Many 18th - century American novels often reflected the Puritan work ethic, moral codes, and ideas of sin and redemption. For example, in some works, characters' actions were judged based on Puritan beliefs. Another aspect was the exploration of the new American identity. As the colonies were growing and developing, novels started to depict the unique American experience, different from that of Europe. Also, the language in these novels was gradually forming its own American flavor, distinct from the more formal English of the mother country.