Poetics of National and Racial Identity in Nineteenth-Century American Literature

Discover the intricate relationship between national and racial identity in John D. Kerkering's insightful work, Poetics of National and Racial Identity in Nineteenth-Century American Literature, published by Cambridge University Press in 2009. This compelling book spans 368 pages and delves into the literary landscape of 19th-century America, illustrating how poetry played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's identity. Kerkering expertly explores how poetic expressions not only contributed to the definition of America as a unified nation but also delineated its diverse racial categories. Through a careful analysis of formal literary techniques, this book reveals the interconnectedness of national and racial identities within a single literary history. Ideal for scholars and enthusiasts of American literature, this title is a must-have for anyone interested in the complexities of identity in the context of literature.