Abstract

Bestsellers in Nineteenth Century America seeks to produce for students novels, poems and other printed material that sold extremely well when they first appeared in the United States. Many of the most famous American works of the nineteenth century that we know today — such as Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick — were not widely read when they first appeared. This collection seeks to offer its readers a glimpse at the literature that lit up the literary horizon when the works were first published, leading to insights on key cultural aspects of the nineteenth-century United States and its literary culture.

“Gutjahr offers a generous selection of texts, by turns pious and provocative, each of which offers a glimpse into the complex and colorful world of nineteenth-century popular culture. Scholars and students alike will find it invaluable.” –Leon Jackson, Associate Professor of English, University of South Carolina

“This volume is outstanding. Expertly curated, with just the right combination of range and depth, it belongs on the shelf of any serious student of nineteenth-century popular print culture.” –William Gleason, Professor, Department of English, Princeton University

Paul Gutjahr is a professor of English at Indiana University.