They often had idealized love stories. For example, in some novels, the hero and heroine overcame great social differences to be together. The settings were usually in the American landscape, like the plantations in the South.
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.
One of the top 20th - century American novels is 'The Sound and the Fury' by William Faulkner. It uses a complex narrative structure to tell the story of a southern family's decline. 'On the Road' by Jack Kerouac is another great one. It represents the Beat Generation, with its themes of freedom, travel, and a search for meaning. And 'Ulysses' by James Joyce, while Irish, also had a significant impact on American modernist literature in the 20th century.
A common theme is the changing concept of the American Dream. In many novels, like Steinbeck's 'The Grapes of Wrath', the dream of prosperity and a better life is shattered by economic hardships and social inequalities. The Joad family's struggle during the Dust Bowl era shows how difficult it was for ordinary people to achieve their dreams.