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convey a firm sense of regional identity with a focus on the differences that exist between people in the East and the West or the rich and the poor. Others explore ethnic identity. Their writing arose from local history, moral fables, character studies, and dilemmas posed by race and class. The approaches of these writers range from the use of straightforward plots with conventional language to the creation of quirky plotlines, points of view, and narrative voices. The tone of these earliest works ranges from assertive pride to playful irony to sympathy for suffering loss.
While the 19th century was full of changes for the new country, the 20th century brought even more rapid change. Early in the century, the human and economic dev- astation of World War I spurred social, political, and cultural developments, including the introduction of more women in the workplace, new laws and medical knowledge for better standards of working and living, and technological advancements in mass communication. Early 20th-century writers experimented with their craft. With a deliberate break from traditional forms of writing, they attempted to create order from the chaos through the use of rational and logical thought. The belief in an individual’s experiences in the creation of one’s identity was prominent. Much of their writing worked to show the broken political and social structures seen after World War I during the Great Depression. By mid-century, as Americans were working to forget the horrors of a second world war and living with the new looming threat of nuclear war and communism from the Soviet Union, writers captured the underlying feelings of angst and anxiety of the country. While Modernist writers valued unity, Postmodern authors rejected it, playing with chaos to create new forms through experimentation.
Contemporary writers of the 21st century, like many writers in the American tradition, continue exposing issues important to Americans. However, many also attempt to bring a worldwide perspective since Americans live in a world globally connected through international commerce, instant communication, and worldwide travel. Contemporary writers’ styles are wide-ranging as they experiment with the styles of past writers, but as of yet, it is too soon for literary critics to define their collective style.
Since the United States is constantly changing, no single piece of literature represents the American voice. America is a complex whole, comprised of countless individual experiences. To read this collection of writing is not to define the American experience—it is to learn from various pieces of it. It is to find yourself—in a phrase borrowed from John Steinbeck—in search of America.
xii To the Reader