Realism and Naturalism in Nineteenth-Century American Literature (Crosscurrents Modern Critiques)

The 1966 edition of this book has become a standard work. In this new, revised edition, Pizer has dropped three chapters and has refined and extended the work by adding six: American Literary Naturalism: An Approach Through Form,” American Literary Naturalism: The Example of Dreiser,” The Problem of Philosophy in the Naturalistic Novel,” Hamlin Garland’s 1891 Main-Travelled Roads: Local Color as Art,” Jack London: The Problem of Form,” and Dreiser’s Nigger Jeff’: The Development of an Aesthetic.”

The book contains definitions of realism and naturalism based on representative novels of the period ranging from Howells’ Rise of Silas Lapham to Crane’s Red Badge of Courage; analyses of the literary criticism of the age, stressing that of Howells, Garland, and Norris; and close readings of specific works by major figures of the period.